2K has announced a big leadership change at its California-based studio, 31st Union. Ben Brinkman, a veteran producer known for his work on Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Black Ops, and with EA Sports is officially taking over as the new studio head on October 20th.
The news came through an internal memo from 2K President David Ismailer, who described Brinkman as the right person to guide 31st Union into its “next phase of growth.”
After several months of conversations, I’m thrilled to share that Ben Brinkman will be joining 31st Union as Studio Head,” Ismailer wrote. “Ben’s experience building world-class shooter experiences makes him a perfect fit for where the studio is headed.
A New Chapter For Project Ethos
Brinkman’s resume reads like a tour through some of gaming’s biggest studios. Before joining 2K, he worked at Respawn Entertainment as Head of Production on Apex Legends and previously spent time at Treyarch, Activision, and EA Canada. 2K isn’t a new place for Brinkman. In fact, he actually worked at 2K in the mid-200s as a producer.
He’ll be stepping in for Michael Condrey, who founded 31st Union in 2019 and led development on the studio’s still-mysterious project, Project Ethos. Condrey stepped down earlier this year but will remain a part of the studio, mainly working on Project Ethos.
According to Ismailer, Brinkman’s arrival signals renewed momentum for Project Ethos, which 2K described as “a bold, original IP” with strong multiplayer elements.
The feedback from last year’s playtest showed us players are excited by the potential of Project Ethos,” Ismailer said. “We took that to heart, and with Ben now leading the charge, confidence in the project grows every day.
Brinkman himself shared his excitement in a short statement:
“It feels great to be back with 2K,” he said. “31st Union has a ton of talent and passion — I can’t wait to build something truly special with this team.
With fresh leadership and a renewed vision, 2K looks eager to get Project Ethos back on track — and fans will be watching closely to see what Brinkman brings to the table.
