The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Response
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a distinct direction.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
The news echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the full message from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”
With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to heart and revamped the title with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our fans.
Our confidence in this project increases every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.
David
Background of the New Head
The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Face the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that change every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."
Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or consoles, but fans can look forward to further news as development continues.
