The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Follows Poor Response
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a more defined direction.
The president expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
The news follows a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full content from the president's communication:
Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a sharper identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our players.
The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of the team. After some time of talks, Ben starts with us on next week.
His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of the game in the months to follow.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a early access event. Then, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your group can secure victory? The decision is yours."
The game lacks an announced launch window or platforms, but fans can look forward to more updates as development continues.
