2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a distinct vision.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
The news echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full text from Ismailer's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a clearer brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our audience.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
His management and background in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving him next week. We are all excited to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.
The President
Background of the New Leader
The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."
Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or platforms, but fans can expect further news as creation continues.
