🔗 Share this article

2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a clearer direction.

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

Trend of Key Hires

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to heart and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. After several months of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward 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 match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, risks, and tests that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or supported systems, but fans can anticipate more updates as creation continues.