2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Reception
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined game identity.
The president noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Strategic Hires
The news follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.
Below is the complete message from Ismailer's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming him next week. We are all looking forward to persist observing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.
David
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that change every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."
The game lacks an announced release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to additional details as production continues.
