The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Poor Response
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer game identity.
The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
This announcement follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Below is the entire content from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our players.
The trust in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. After several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
The President
Background of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling 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 suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that change every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your squad can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."
Project Ethos does not have an official release date or consoles, but fans can expect more updates as production continues.
