The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer game identity.
The president noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
The news mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete content from the president's announcement:
Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our fans.
Our confidence in this project increases every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of the team. After some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all eager to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the category."
"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 description reads. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, risks, and tests that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but fans can anticipate further news as creation advances.
