The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct vision.
The president expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
This announcement follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a sharper identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our audience.
The trust in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, he starts with us on the specified date.
Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to persist observing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year together with a early access event. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that change every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."
The game does not have an confirmed launch window or platforms, but fans can look forward to further news as production continues.
