The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Follows Poor Reception
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct direction.
The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full message from Ismailer's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our audience.
The belief in this project increases every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His management and experience in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the recent years developing and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
David
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and tests that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."
The game lacks an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as development advances.
