🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our players.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben next week. We are all eager to continue observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Face the competition with new abilities, challenges, and tests that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your squad can secure victory? The choice is yours."

The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can expect further news as development advances.