2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Follows Poor Feedback
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer game identity.
The president expressed that the team is now refining the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the complete message from the president's memo:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a more distinct vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. After some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben soon. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.
The President
Background of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a community playtest. Then, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that change every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, risk it all, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced debut schedule or platforms, but players can anticipate further news as production progresses.
