The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.
The president noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
The news mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a more distinct identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the new Lead of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on next week.
His management and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
David
Background of the New Head
Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."
"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 game's pitch states. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as development progresses.
