The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Feedback
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined direction.
The president noted that the team is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Here is the full message from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled 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 motivated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to heart and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our fans.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. Following some time of conversations, he starts with us on the specified date.
His guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having spent the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most recognizable series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but players can expect additional details as development progresses.
