The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback
The new appointee steps into 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 unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined game identity.
The president stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to address player expectations.
Trend of Key Hires
The news mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire message from Ismailer's communication:
Team—
I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a clearer brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our players.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
His management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue seeing the development of the game in the months to follow.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your group can secure victory? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can look forward to more updates as development continues.
