🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct vision.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full content from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. After a period of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and leading some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse 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 revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

The game does not have an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as creation continues.