The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Follows Poor Response
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer direction.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Strategic Hires
The news follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.
Below is the entire message from Ismailer's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our players.
The belief in this project increases every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Face the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as development progresses.
