2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Poor Feedback
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the requirement for a distinct direction.
The president expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
The news mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full message from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
His management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the progress of the game in the time to follow.
The President
Background of the New Leader
The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Face the competition with new abilities, challenges, and tests that change every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or consoles, but fans can expect additional details as development progresses.
