The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct vision.
Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address player expectations.
Trend of Key Hires
The news echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After several months of discussions, he comes aboard us on the specified date.
His management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having devoted the recent years creating and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue seeing the development of the game in the weeks to come.
David
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Face the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as production continues.
