🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Response

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the recent years developing and managing some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as development progresses.