The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Poor Reception
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined direction.
Ismailer stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Key Hires
This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full content from the president's announcement:
Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. Following some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in greeting him next week. We are all excited to persist seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."
The game has not yet received an official release date or consoles, but players can look forward to further news as production advances.
