2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Change Comes After Poor Reception
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined game identity.
The president expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
The news mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, he comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having devoted the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio 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 assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."
The game has not yet received an announced launch window or platforms, but fans can anticipate additional details as creation continues.
