2K Recruits Popular Battle Royale Developer to Rescue Challenged Hero Shooter Ambitious Title

The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer direction.

The president stated that the team is now refining the project with a revised focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full content from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

His leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having dedicated the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward 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 game's pitch explains. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that change every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your group can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."

The game lacks an official launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as creation advances.