2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Follows Poor Feedback
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer game identity.
Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a clearer vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to heart and reimagined the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After some time of talks, he officially joins us on next week.
His leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."
Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or supported systems, but players can anticipate further news as creation progresses.
