2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Poor Feedback
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct direction.
Ismailer stated that the team is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address player expectations.
Trend of Key Recruitment
This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.
Below is the full message from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the development of the game in the time to come.
The President
Background of the New Head
Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 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! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your team can secure victory? The option is yours."
The game does not have an announced debut schedule or platforms, but fans can anticipate further news as development advances.
