The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Poor Feedback
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full content from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated 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 embraced the input to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. After a period of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
David
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as development progresses.
