2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Response
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer direction.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Key Recruitment
This announcement follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full content from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a clearer identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.
His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving him next week. We are all eager to persist witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.
David
Background of the New Leader
The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Take on the competition with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."
The game lacks an official launch window or consoles, but players can anticipate further news as development continues.
