2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Comes After Mixed Response
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a clearer direction.
Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address player expectations.
Trend of Key Recruitment
This announcement follows a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire message from Ismailer's communication:
Team—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all excited to keep seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.
David
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your squad can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."
The game lacks an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can look forward to additional details as production progresses.
