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 upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Mixed Reception
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined vision.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Key Hires
This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete text from the president's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”
With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our audience.
The belief in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. After several months of talks, he starts with us on next week.
His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having devoted the recent years developing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
The President
Background of the New Leader
The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Face the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your team can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."
The game lacks an announced debut schedule or platforms, but fans can look forward to more updates as development advances.
