2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Response
The new appointee assumes the leadership position 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 underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a clearer game identity.
The president noted that the team is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Key Hires
This announcement echoes a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire text from the president's memo:
Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
The trust in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. After a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming him next week. We are all eager to continue observing the development of the game in the time to come.
David
Background of the New Leader
The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter 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 match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can secure victory? The choice is up to you."
The game lacks an confirmed release date or supported systems, but players can look forward to further news as creation advances.
