The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Comes After Poor Feedback
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined vision.
The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”
With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
David
Background of the New Leader
The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person 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! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Face the competition with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."
The game lacks an official release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as production progresses.
