The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Comes After Poor Feedback
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.
The president expressed that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
The news mirrors a similar action 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 message from Ismailer's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our fans.
The trust in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving him next week. We are all excited to persist witnessing the development of the game in the weeks to ahead.
David
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Face the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that change every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."
Project Ethos has not yet received an official debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as creation advances.