2K Recruits Popular Battle Royale Developer to Revitalize Troubled Hero Shooter Project Ethos

The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a clearer vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full text from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled 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 driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our audience.

The trust in this project grows every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of the team. After some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that change every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or consoles, but players can expect additional details as development progresses.