The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Mixed Reception
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer vision.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the entire content from the president's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.
The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, Ben starts with us on next week.
His guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having devoted the recent years developing and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in greeting Ben soon. We are all excited to continue witnessing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.
David
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the style."
"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 description states. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but players can look forward to additional details as development advances.
