2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Poor Reception
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer direction.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Hires
The news echoes a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full message from the president's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a more distinct brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.
The President
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio 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 stints at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and pray your group can secure victory? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as development progresses.
