The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Feedback
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer game identity.
The president expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Key Hires
This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete message from the president's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our fans.
The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming him next week. We are all eager to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the genre."
"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 description states. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The option is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an official debut schedule or consoles, but players can anticipate more updates as development advances.
