The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Follows Mixed Reception
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer vision.
The president expressed that the team is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Key Recruitment
This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete content from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our audience.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. After some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a early access event. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."
The game has not yet received an official launch window or consoles, but players can expect more updates as creation continues.
