2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Mixed Response
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct direction.
The president expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Key Recruitment
The news follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full content from Ismailer's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. After several months of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the recent years producing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep observing the development of the game in the months to follow.
David
Background of the New Head
The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Face the competition with fresh skills, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."
The game does not have an announced release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to more updates as production progresses.
