2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Response
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined vision.
The president noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
The news mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.
Here is the full message from Ismailer's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our audience.
The belief in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to persist seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."
The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or consoles, but players can anticipate more updates as creation continues.
