🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full text from the president's memo:

Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Lead of the team. After several months of conversations, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises 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 eager to keep witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Face the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or platforms, but fans can anticipate more updates as creation advances.