2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Response
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined vision.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:
Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a more distinct vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our audience.
The belief in this project grows every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. After a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in welcoming him next week. We are all excited to keep seeing the development of the game in the weeks to follow.
The President
Background of the New Leader
The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."
The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to further news as development advances.
