The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Comes After Poor Feedback
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire message from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. After a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most popular series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all eager to keep observing the development of the game in the months to follow.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the style."
"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 states. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as production progresses.
