Ben Brinkman has been named as the head of 2K's 31st Union studio

31st Union, a studio under 2K Games, has announced the appointment of Ben Brinkman as its new studio head, effective October 20, 2025.

According to a report by Variety, David Ismailer, President of 2K, announced this leadership change in a memo circulated on October 16.

Ismailer expressed his enthusiasm by stating, "I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new studio head of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, Ben officially joins us on Monday."

Brinkman comes from a background as head of production for Apex Legends at Respawn Entertainment. Additionally, he held roles within 2K as a producer between 2006 and 2008, and has been associated with renowned companies like Activision, Treyarch, and Electronic Arts Canada.

2K President Ismailer emphasized Brinkman's vast experience in the PVP shooter genre, highlighting his contributions to prominent franchises such as Call of Duty: Black Ops and Apex Legends.

This new role makes Brinkman the successor to former president Michael Condrey, who left his position earlier this year following concerns about the online multiplayer game Project Ethos.

Condrey had been set to transition into an advisory position concentrating on the future of Project Ethos.

Furthermore, Ismailer provided an update on Project Ethos, sharing that their "confidence [in the title] grows every day." He mentioned that community feedback from a playtest last fall highlighted the potential of a roguelike shooter and the need for clearer identity.

"It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to heart and reimagined Project Ethos with a renewed vision – one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our players. Our confidence in Project Ethos grows every day."