The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct vision.
The president stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.
Trend of Key Hires
The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire message from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a clearer identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our fans.
The belief in this project increases every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. After several months of talks, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving him next week. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can secure victory? The decision is yours."
The game does not have an announced debut schedule or consoles, but players can look forward to more updates as production progresses.
