The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Reception
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.
The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. 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 creative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a clearer brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Director of the team. Following some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."
Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or platforms, but fans can anticipate further news as production progresses.
