2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.
The news follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. Following a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to persist seeing the development of the game in the time to ahead.
The President
Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that change every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."
The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or platforms, but players can look forward to more updates as development continues.
Elena Vance is a digital strategist and creative director with over a decade of experience in transforming brands through innovative design.