2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Response
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined vision.
The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed focus, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Here is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a sharper brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.
His leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.
David
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that shift every session. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and hope your squad can secure victory? The option is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as creation continues.
