The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Change Follows Poor Feedback
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer direction.
The president expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Strategic Hires
The news mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire content from Ismailer's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Lead of the team. After some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the category."
"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 official summary states. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."
The game does not have an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can anticipate more updates as development progresses.
