The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Poor Feedback
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a more defined vision.
The president noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Key Hires
The news follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the complete text from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After several months of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving him next week. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Face the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that change every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."
The game has not yet received an confirmed launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as production progresses.
