The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Transition Follows Poor Feedback
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire text from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.
His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and tests that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, risk it all, and trust your squad can secure victory? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production continues.
