The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Comes After Poor Response
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a clearer game identity.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
The news follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full message from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a more distinct brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our players.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution 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 states. "Take on the competition with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or take a risk, risk it all, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."
The game does not have an announced launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as production progresses.
