2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Mixed Response
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct vision.
Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised focus, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
The news follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire message from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our players.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After a period of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or consoles, but players can look forward to further news as creation continues.
