2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Mixed Response
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a distinct direction.
The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Key Hires
This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire content from the president's communication:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the months to come.
David
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative 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 description reads. "Face the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your group can secure victory? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or consoles, but players can look forward to further news as creation progresses.
