The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Response
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire message from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
David
Experience of the New Head
The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and tests that change every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is yours."
The game does not have an official release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as development progresses.
