2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Response
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' disappointing unveiling last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined game identity.
The president stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
The news mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete message from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue observing the development of the game in the months to come.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year together with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement 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 description states. "Take on the competition with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, risk it all, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."
The game has not yet received an confirmed launch window or platforms, but players can anticipate additional details as development progresses.
