The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.
This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.
Below is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following some time of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.
His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the recent years producing and managing some of the most well-known series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
David
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your team can secure victory? The option 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.
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