🔗 Share this article

2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The trust in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most popular series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that evolve every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or platforms, but players can expect further news as production continues.