🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Lukewarm Response

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. After several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His management and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist seeing the development of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year together with a public demo. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience 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 live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game does not have an official debut schedule or platforms, but fans can expect more updates as development advances.