The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Follows Poor Response
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.
The president expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Key Recruitment
The news follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire content from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to heart and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the new Director of the team. After a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Then, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Face the competition with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."
The game does not have an official debut schedule or platforms, but fans can anticipate more updates as development continues.
