The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Reception
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a more defined vision.
Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
This announcement follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire content from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a more distinct vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, he officially joins us on the specified date.
His management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all eager to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward 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 description reads. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
The game does not have an official release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as production progresses.
