The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Mixed Response
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.
The president noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
The news follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire content from the president's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of the team. Following some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist observing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.
David
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that change every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."
The game has not yet received an announced launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development continues.
