2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head 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, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer game identity.
The president noted that the team is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full content from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”
With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our fans.
The trust in this project increases every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having spent the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective 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 match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that shift every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as development advances.
