2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Poor Response
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer game identity.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Hires
This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.
Here is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a clearer brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our audience.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. After several months of conversations, he starts with us on the specified date.
Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having dedicated the recent years developing and leading some of the most popular franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving him next week. We are all excited to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Face the competition with new abilities, challenges, and tests that shift every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or supported systems, but players can anticipate further news as development advances.
