The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Poor Reception
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a distinct direction.
The president expressed that the team is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Key Hires
This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete message from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our players.
The trust in this project increases every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.
His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an announced launch window or supported systems, but fans can look forward to more updates as development progresses.
