The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead 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 Comes After Mixed Reception
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer vision.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full message from the president's memo:
Team—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our fans.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. After a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.
Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all looking forward to persist observing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and trust your squad can secure victory? The decision is up to you."
The game has not yet received an announced release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to additional details as development continues.
