2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Comes After Mixed Response
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined direction.
The president stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Hires
The news follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete text from the president's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a clearer brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our players.
Our confidence in this project increases every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Lead of the team. Following some time of conversations, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that change every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or supported systems, but players can look forward to additional details as production continues.
