The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Mixed Feedback
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined direction.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
This announcement echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete message from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our fans.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.
His management and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the progress of the game in the time to come.
The President
Background of the New Leader
The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in last year in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and tests that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your group can secure victory? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an official release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as creation continues.
