The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Comes After Poor Response
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer game identity.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full text from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to mind and revamped the title with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our players.
The trust in this project increases every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.
His leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all eager to continue observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Face the competition with new abilities, risks, and tests that change every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or consoles, but players can anticipate additional details as creation progresses.
