2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Mixed Response
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct vision.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
The news echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Below is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”
With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our audience.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having devoted the recent years creating and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to continue observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.
The President
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Face the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that change every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as development progresses.
