The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Comes After Poor Feedback
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the requirement for a distinct vision.
Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Strategic Hires
This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete message from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a sharper vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our audience.
The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the new Lead of the team. After a period of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in greeting him soon. We are all excited to keep seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
David
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and tests that shift every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your team can secure victory? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an official release date or platforms, but fans can look forward to additional details as development advances.
