The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Follows Poor Reception
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 reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined direction.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Key Hires
This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.
Here is the full text from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a sharper brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving Ben next week. We are all excited to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.
David
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and tests that change every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but players can anticipate more updates as development continues.
