2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Change Follows Mixed Feedback
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct vision.
The president expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
The news echoes a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire text from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our fans.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following several months of talks, he officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having spent the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue observing the progress of the game in the months to come.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."
The game lacks an announced release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to more updates as production advances.
