The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Feedback
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a distinct direction.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete content from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, he starts with us on next week.
His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having spent the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a public demo. Then, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or supported systems, but fans can anticipate additional details as development progresses.
