The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Response
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct direction.
The president stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
This announcement follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a clearer vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. After several months of talks, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to continue observing the development of the game in the time to ahead.
David
Background of the New Head
Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or platforms, but players can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.
