🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a clearer game identity.

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

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our players.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him soon. We are all excited to persist witnessing the development of the game in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that change every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as creation progresses.