2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Follows Poor Response
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined vision.
The president expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
The news follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full content from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”
With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a clearer brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our players.
The trust in this project strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. Following some time of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the recent years developing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of the game in the time to come.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and tests that change every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as creation progresses.
