2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Response
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer direction.
The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full content from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to persist seeing the development of the game in the months to come.
The President
Background of the New Head
Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Face the opponents with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development advances.
