The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Comes After Poor Feedback
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a distinct direction.
The president stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed focus, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Key Hires
This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete message from the president's communication:
Team—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to heart and revamped the title with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
The belief in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.
David
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement 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 match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that change every round. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your team can secure victory? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an announced launch window or supported systems, but players can expect further news as development progresses.
