2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Mixed Response
The new appointee assumes the leadership position 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 disappointing early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.
The president noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
The news echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete text from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our audience.
The trust in this project grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he officially joins us on next week.
His management and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the progress of the game in the time to follow.
The President
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 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 suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Face the competition with new abilities, risks, and tests that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."
The game does not have an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as creation continues.
