The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Follows Poor Response
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer direction.
The president noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Key Hires
This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full text from the president's communication:
Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. After several months of conversations, he starts with us on the specified date.
Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all eager to keep seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
David
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that change every round. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."
The game lacks an official release date or supported systems, but players can expect more updates as production progresses.
