2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Poor Reception
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer game identity.
The president stated that the team is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full text from the president's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”
With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our audience.
The belief in this project strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the recent years producing and leading some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.
David
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your team can secure victory? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an official release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as development advances.
