🔗 Share this article

2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct vision.

The president stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

The news follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire content from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep seeing the development of the game in the time to follow.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that shift every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

The game does not have an official launch window or platforms, but fans can expect further news as production advances.