2K Brings Onboard Popular Battle Royale Lead to Revitalize Challenged Hero Shooter Ambitious Title

The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman assumes 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 lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined vision.

The president stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. Following some time of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or platforms, but fans can anticipate further news as development continues.