🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. Following a period of discussions, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

The game lacks an official release date or consoles, but players can look forward to further news as production continues.