2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a more defined direction.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
The news mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire content from the president's communication:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a clearer brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to heart and overhauled the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the new Director of the team. After some time of talks, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the recent years developing and leading some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting him next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Face the competition with unique powers, challenges, and tests that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your team can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."
The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as development advances.
