🔗 Share this article

2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Poor Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer vision.

The president stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having devoted the recent years creating and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to more updates as creation continues.