2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Response
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined direction.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Key Recruitment
The news echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire content from the president's communication:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.
The belief in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your group can secure victory? The option is up to you."
The game lacks an official launch window or platforms, but players can anticipate additional details as development advances.
