2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Change Comes After Poor Feedback
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a clearer direction.
The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Strategic Hires
This announcement follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire message from Ismailer's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our audience.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.
His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the recent years producing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in greeting Ben soon. We are all excited to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the time to follow.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. 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! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that change every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or platforms, but players can look forward to more updates as creation progresses.
