The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Reception
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer vision.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.
Here is the complete content from the president's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our players.
The trust in this project grows every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.
His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the recent years producing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an official debut schedule or consoles, but fans can expect additional details as production continues.
