2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Response
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct vision.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire message from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our fans.
The belief in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming him soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.
David
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The option is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or consoles, but players can expect more updates as production advances.
