2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Change Follows Mixed Reception
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a more defined game identity.
The president stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full message from the president's memo:
Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”
With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our players.
The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of talks, he starts with us on the specified date.
Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue observing the development of the game in the time to follow.
The President
Experience of the New Head
The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Then, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that change every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The option is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to more updates as creation advances.
