The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Response
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a distinct direction.
Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Hires
This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.
Below is the full content from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our fans.
The belief in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the style."
"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 description states. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."
The game lacks an announced launch window or platforms, but fans can expect more updates as production progresses.
