The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Comes After Poor Response
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined game identity.
Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Key Hires
This announcement echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete content from the president's communication:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our audience.
The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following several months of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.
His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the recent years producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep observing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.
David
Experience of the New Leader
The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement 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 explains. "Face the competition with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your group can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."
The game has not yet received an official launch window or platforms, but players can anticipate additional details as creation progresses.
