2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Response
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a distinct direction.
The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete message from the president's communication:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. Following a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting him next week. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
The game has not yet received an announced launch window or platforms, but players can expect additional details as development continues.
