2K Hires Popular Battle Royale Producer to Boost Struggling Action Game Ambitious Title
2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Response
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the need for a clearer vision.
Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full content from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Teamâ
I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust youâre as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: âI am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the chance to work with - and weâre excited for that collaboration to persist.â
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fallâs Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far youâve progressed. You took the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one thatâs ready to deliver on its potential to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the remarkable progress youâve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.
His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the recent years producing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
The President
Experience of the New Head
The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay sessionâor face defeatâin this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your group can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."
Project Ethos lacks an official release date or consoles, but fans can anticipate further news as development progresses.