The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Poor Feedback
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined direction.
The president expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a revised focus, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full content from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter 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 come. You embraced the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
The belief in this project increases every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most popular series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
The President
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a early access event. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation advances.
