The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Mixed Response
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer direction.
Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the complete text from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on next week.
His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the recent years creating and managing some of the most well-known series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all excited to persist observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.
David
Background of the New Head
Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward 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 explains. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that change every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."
Project Ethos lacks an official release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to further news as creation advances.
