The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Mixed Reception
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a distinct vision.
The president noted that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
The news echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Here is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a clearer identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our audience.
The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years developing and managing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
The President
Background of the New Leader
The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."
The game lacks an announced release date or consoles, but fans can look forward to more updates as development progresses.
