2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Mixed Feedback
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct vision.
The president noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire message from Ismailer's announcement:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. 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 persist.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our fans.
Our confidence in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After several months of talks, Ben starts with us on next week.
His management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having devoted the recent years producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue seeing the development of the game in the weeks to come.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the category."
"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 official summary explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, risks, and challenges that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can secure victory? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or platforms, but players can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.
