2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Change Follows Lukewarm Feedback
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a more defined direction.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire text from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His management and experience in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the recent years producing and managing some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the development of the game in the time to come.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a early access event. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and tests that change every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and hope your team can secure victory? The option is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but fans can expect more updates as development advances.
