The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a clearer game identity.
The president expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our fans.
The belief in this project strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all eager to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that change every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."
The game does not have an announced release date or consoles, but players can look forward to additional details as production progresses.
