The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct vision.
The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Strategic Hires
This announcement follows a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete content from the president's communication:
Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a clearer vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our players.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he starts with us on next week.
His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
David
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement 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 fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that shift every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and pray your group can secure victory? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as development advances.
