🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head 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 David Ismailer informed employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined vision.

The president stated that the team is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to mind and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our audience.

The trust in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. Following several months of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to persist observing the development of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or platforms, but fans can anticipate additional details as development progresses.