The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Mixed Feedback
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct game identity.
The president noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.
Trend of Key Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full message from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following a period of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.
Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an official debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as development progresses.
