2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Poor Response
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined direction.
The president stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Key Hires
The news follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete message from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Lead of the team. Following a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an official release date or supported systems, but fans can expect further news as production advances.
