The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Reception
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer direction.
The president stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full content from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our fans.
The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. Following a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.
His management and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all excited to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a early access event. Initially, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."
"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 description reads. "Face the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as production continues.
