2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Response
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct direction.
The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
Trend of Key Hires
This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.
Here is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our players.
The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the months to follow.
David
Experience of the New Head
The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."
The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as production progresses.
