The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Response
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the requirement for a distinct direction.
Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full text from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.
His management and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to persist observing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.
David
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year together with a early access event. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."
"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 game's pitch explains. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."
The game does not have an announced debut schedule or platforms, but fans can look forward to additional details as production continues.
