The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Response
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a more defined direction.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address player expectations.
Trend of Key Recruitment
This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:
Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having spent the recent years producing and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all excited to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as production advances.
