2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Mixed Response
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct game identity.
The president stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.
Trend of Key Recruitment
This announcement follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Below is the full content from the president's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a clearer vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our fans.
The trust in this project grows every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the recent years developing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and tests that shift every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an announced launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as development progresses.
