The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Comes After Poor Feedback
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer direction.
The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Key Recruitment
The news mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.
Here is the complete text from the president's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a clearer vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After a period of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in greeting him next week. We are all excited to persist seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
David
Background of the New Head
The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a community playtest. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the genre."
"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 game's pitch states. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that change every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your group can secure victory? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can anticipate additional details as creation progresses.
