2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Follows Mixed Feedback
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined direction.
The president stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Key Recruitment
This announcement echoes 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 development group.
Here is the entire message from Ismailer's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”
With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. After a period of talks, Ben starts with us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having spent the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in greeting Ben soon. We are all looking forward to persist observing the development of the game in the weeks to ahead.
David
Experience of the New Leader
The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement 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 states. "Face the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that change every round. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your team can secure victory? The option is in your hands."
The game has not yet received an official launch window or supported systems, but players can look forward to additional details as production continues.
