The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined game identity.
The president noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Hires
The news echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full text from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our audience.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
His management and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.
The President
Background of the New Leader
The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, risks, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as production continues.
