The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Response
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct vision.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.
Below is the complete message from Ismailer's communication:
Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. After several months of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.
His guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having devoted the recent years developing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all eager to keep seeing the development of the game in the weeks to follow.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Then, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution 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 competition with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that shift every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."
The game does not have an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect further news as production continues.
