The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Transition Follows Poor Reception
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure 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 informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct game identity.
The president noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Hires
This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire text from the president's memo:
Team—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. 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 motivated and creative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
The President
Background of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year alongside a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the genre."
"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 official summary explains. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your group can secure victory? The option is in your hands."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but players can anticipate further news as creation continues.
