The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Mixed Feedback
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a more defined direction.
The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:
Team—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a more distinct brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. After a period of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
David
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year together with a public demo. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the category."
"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 description explains. "Face the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."
The game lacks an announced debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as production continues.
