The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a clearer vision.
The president noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
Trend of Key Recruitment
This announcement echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a sharper identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the recent years developing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
David
Background of the New Head
The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward 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 suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that evolve every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your team can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."
Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but fans can look forward to further news as creation progresses.
