The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Reception
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer direction.
Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
The news follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our players.
The belief in this project increases every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. After a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a community playtest. Then, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."
"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 description reads. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your group can secure victory? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or platforms, but players can anticipate additional details as development continues.
