The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
The news mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire content from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our players.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.
His management and experience in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having devoted the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.
The President
Background of the New Head
Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."
Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as creation continues.
