2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Reception
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer vision.
The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Hires
The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full message from the president's memo:
Dear Team—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our audience.
The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the recent years creating and managing some of the most popular series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.
David
Background of the New Head
The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that change every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."
The game lacks an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as development advances.
