2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Poor Feedback
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct vision.
The president noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised approach, aiming to address gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
The news follows a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full text from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every round. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."
The game has not yet received an announced release date or consoles, but fans can expect additional details as creation progresses.
