The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Poor Feedback
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer direction.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement echoes a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full message from the president's announcement:
Team—
I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming him next week. We are all eager to continue observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.
David
Experience 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. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in last year together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that change every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."
The game has not yet received an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as development advances.
