2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a distinct vision.
The president stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Strategic Hires
This announcement follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the complete text from the president's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a more distinct brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he officially joins us on next week.
His management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or supported systems, but fans can anticipate additional details as production progresses.
