2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Follows Poor Response
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a distinct direction.
The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete text from the president's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in greeting him soon. We are all eager to persist witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that evolve every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."
The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.
