The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Feedback
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.
The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Key Hires
This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete content from the president's communication:
Team—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a sharper identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to heart and revamped the title with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in greeting Ben soon. We are all excited to continue seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.
David
Background of the New Head
The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a early access event. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the style."
"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 opponents with new abilities, risks, and tests that shift every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but players can look forward to more updates as production progresses.
