The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct vision.
Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire content from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. After a period of discussions, he starts with us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the recent years developing and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to persist observing the evolution of the game in the months to come.
David
Experience of the New Leader
The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."
The game lacks an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can anticipate additional details as production advances.
