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.
Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a clearer direction.
Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Key Hires
The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire message from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the recent years producing and leading some of the most recognizable series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.
David
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your group can secure victory? The option is yours."
The game does not have an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but fans can expect additional details as production continues.
