🔗 Share this article

2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

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

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

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 update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

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

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to heart and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our players.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the recent years producing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to persist observing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that change every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an announced launch window or platforms, but players can look forward to further news as production progresses.