2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Response
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct direction.
The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Here is the entire message from the president's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - 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 am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our players.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, he starts with us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having dedicated the recent years creating and managing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of the game in the months to follow.
David
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a early access event. Initially, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can secure victory? The option is in your hands."
The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or consoles, but players can expect more updates as development advances.
