The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Reception
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.
Recently, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined vision.
The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.
Below is the full content from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. Following a period of discussions, Ben starts with us on next week.
His leadership and background in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue observing the progress of the game in the weeks to come.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."
The game lacks an official launch window or consoles, but players can anticipate additional details as development advances.
