🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee 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 Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our players.

The trust in this project increases every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"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 reads. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that change every match. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your group can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an official release date or supported systems, but fans can anticipate additional details as production advances.