2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee takes on 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 the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.
The president noted that the team is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
The news mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Director of the team. Following a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most popular series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all excited to continue observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting 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 fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."
The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or platforms, but fans can expect more updates as creation progresses.
