The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct game identity.
The president expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Key Hires
The news echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a more distinct identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. After several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep seeing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.
The President
Background of the New Leader
The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that change every session. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."
Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as production progresses.
