2K Brings Onboard Popular Battle Royale Producer to Boost Struggling Action Game Project Ethos

The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a more defined direction.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from the president's communication:

Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. After several months of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every match. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your squad can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an announced launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation continues.