The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Poor Response
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a more defined direction.
The president noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire text from Ismailer's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a more distinct identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our fans.
The trust in this project grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he starts with us on next week.
His management and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."
The game has not yet received an announced release date or consoles, but fans can anticipate more updates as production continues.
