The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Reception
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined direction.
Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
The news mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.
Here is the entire content from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following a period of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming him soon. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the development of the game in the time to follow.
David
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."
The game does not have an confirmed release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as creation progresses.
