The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Feedback
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a clearer vision.
The president expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
The news mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire text from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, Ben starts with us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most well-known series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the progress of the game in the months to follow.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling 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 game's pitch states. "Face the opponents with new abilities, risks, and tests that change every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as production progresses.
