2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Follows Poor Reception
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer direction.
The president expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
The news echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire text from the president's memo:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”
With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
The President
Background of the New Head
The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can secure victory? The choice is up to you."
The game lacks an official launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as production continues.
