🔗 Share this article

2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer vision.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire content from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. Following a period of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having spent the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that change every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as development continues.