The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Follows Poor Reception
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct game identity.
The president stated that the team is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.
Trend of Key Recruitment
This announcement echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire content from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a clearer identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to mind and revamped the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years developing and managing some of the most well-known series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving Ben next week. We are all excited to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the time to follow.
David
Background of the New Leader
The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year together with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that change every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."
The game lacks an confirmed launch window or platforms, but players can expect additional details as production progresses.
