The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer direction.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Key Hires
This announcement echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our fans.
The belief in this project increases every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. Following some time of talks, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to come.
David
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in last year together with a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."
The game does not have an official release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as production continues.
