2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Transition Comes After Poor 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 the game's lackluster early showing last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a clearer vision.
The president expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full message from the president's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”
With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the development of the game in the months to come.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective 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! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to more updates as production continues.
