2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Comes After Poor Response
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a more defined vision.
The president noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
The news echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire content from Ismailer's communication:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. Following several months of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most recognizable series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue observing the progress of the game in the time to ahead.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the genre."
"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 official summary states. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is up to you."
The game lacks an confirmed launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as production progresses.
