2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Feedback
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 reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a distinct direction.
The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Hires
The news echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.
Below is the entire content from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”
With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a clearer identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to come.
David
Background of the New Leader
The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier 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.
Game Information and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Then, the developers described 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 reads. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as development advances.
