The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct direction.
Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.
Here is the complete message from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.
The President
Background of the New Head
The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that change every match. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."
The game does not have an announced debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as development continues.
