2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Feedback
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address player expectations.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
The news follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His management and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving Ben next week. We are all excited to continue observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
David
Background of the New Head
Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year together with a public demo. Then, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that change every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."
The game lacks an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but players can anticipate more updates as development advances.
