The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer direction.
The president stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address community desires.
This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete message from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our players.
The trust in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.
The President
Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution 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 states. "Face the competition with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every session. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an official release date or consoles, but fans can look forward to additional details as production progresses.
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