🔗 Share this article

2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Poor Response

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a clearer direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

The news follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full text from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all eager to continue seeing the development of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as development continues.