The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Poor Feedback
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined direction.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
The news follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.
Below is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in welcoming him next week. We are all excited to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.
David
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."
The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as creation advances.
