2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Feedback
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer vision.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire text from the president's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a sharper identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our players.
Our confidence in this project increases every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.
The President
Background of the New Head
Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that change every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your squad can secure victory? The option is up to you."
The game has not yet received an official debut schedule or supported systems, but players can expect additional details as development continues.
