The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure informed staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct direction.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full content from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our fans.
The belief in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the recent years producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of the game in the weeks to follow.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can anticipate further news as creation progresses.
