The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a more defined direction.
The president stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
This announcement echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire content from Ismailer's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our players.
The belief in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. After some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most popular series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the development of the game in the weeks to come.
David
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and tests that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your group can secure victory? The option is in your hands."
The game has not yet received an official launch window or consoles, but players can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.
