The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Follows Poor Reception
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a more defined vision.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the full text from the president's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution 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 reads. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that shift every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but players can look forward to additional details as production progresses.
