2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a clearer direction.
The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement follows a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full message from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a more distinct brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.
His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all excited to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, risks, and tests that change every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is up to you."
The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development continues.
