2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a distinct vision.
Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.
This announcement follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire message from the president's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope 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 creative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our audience.
Our confidence in this project increases every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. Following a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of the game in the time to ahead.
The President
Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that shift every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."
The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as creation continues.
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