The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Hires
This announcement echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. Following a period of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having devoted the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in welcoming Ben next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the months to come.
David
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Then, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that evolve every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an official release date or consoles, but fans can anticipate additional details as development advances.
