The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Poor Reception
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct game identity.
The president expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Hires
This announcement follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.
Here is the entire text from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His management and expertise in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.
David
Background of the New Head
Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."
The game does not have an official launch window or consoles, but fans can anticipate more updates as development continues.
