The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Mixed Reception
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Key Recruitment
The news mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete text from the president's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our fans.
Our confidence in this project increases every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he starts with us on next week.
His management and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming him next week. We are all eager to continue observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in last year together with a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Face the competition with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."
The game does not have an announced launch window or consoles, but players can look forward to additional details as creation advances.
