2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct direction.
Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
The news mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire text from the president's announcement:
Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.
His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in greeting him next week. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."
Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or platforms, but players can expect more updates as development progresses.
