2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined direction.
The president noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
The news echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.
Below is the complete content from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a sharper identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our audience.
The trust in this project increases every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the development of the game in the weeks to follow.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."
Project Ethos lacks an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as production progresses.
