2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Follows Poor Feedback
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a distinct direction.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to address player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire content from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a clearer identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our fans.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having dedicated the recent years producing and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to continue observing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the style."
"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 states. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and tests that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your group can secure victory? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an official release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as production progresses.
