2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Mixed Feedback
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct direction.
Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Strategic Hires
This announcement follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete text from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a more distinct brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our players.
The belief in this project increases every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.
Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.
David
Experience of the New Head
The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that shift every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."
Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or consoles, but players can anticipate additional details as development advances.
