The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Poor Response
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a distinct vision.
The president expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full message from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. After several months of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in greeting Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."
The game lacks an announced release date or platforms, but players can anticipate further news as development advances.
