2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Feedback
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer direction.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full content from the president's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a clearer brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to consideration and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.
His guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most popular series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.
The President
Background of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Then, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement 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 description reads. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The option is yours."
The game lacks an confirmed launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to further news as production continues.
