🔗 Share this article

2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now refining the project with a revised focus, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the full content from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. After several months of talks, he starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having devoted the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to keep observing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, risks, and challenges that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or platforms, but fans can expect more updates as creation advances.