The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Comes After Poor Response
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined vision.
The president stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.
Below is the full content from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”
With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
The belief in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. After some time of talks, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
His leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most well-known series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to come.
David
Background of the New Leader
The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution 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 official summary states. "Face the competition with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The option is yours."
The game lacks an announced debut schedule or platforms, but fans can anticipate additional details as creation progresses.
