The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Change Comes After Mixed Response
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a distinct vision.
The president stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Key Recruitment
This announcement follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete content from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. 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 creative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our players.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.
His management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the recent years producing and managing some of the most well-known series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your group can secure victory? The option is in your hands."
Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but fans can expect additional details as production advances.
