The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Response
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a clearer vision.
The president noted that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
The news echoes a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete text from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. After a period of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.
His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Face the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is yours."
The game lacks an confirmed release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation progresses.
