The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee 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 Comes After Mixed Feedback
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a distinct direction.
The president stated that the team is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Hires
The news mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full message from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”
With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. Following a period of conversations, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
His guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having spent the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production advances.
