The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Reception
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer game identity.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Key Recruitment
The news echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Here is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a clearer vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our audience.
The belief in this project grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.
David
Experience of the New Head
The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your team can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production continues.
