The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Response
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a clearer vision.
Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the full text from the president's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a more distinct identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. Following some time of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His management and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in greeting him next week. We are all excited to persist observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.
David
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as production continues.
