2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Poor Reception
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct direction.
The president stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
This announcement echoes a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.
Below is the full text from the president's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”
With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a clearer brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. Following a period of discussions, Ben starts with us on next week.
Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your group can secure victory? The decision is yours."
The game has not yet received an official launch window or platforms, but players can look forward to additional details as development advances.
