The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Response
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct vision.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address player expectations.
Trend of Key Hires
This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:
Team—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our audience.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Lead of the team. After a period of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to keep observing the evolution of the game in the time to come.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Face the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, risk it all, and trust your squad can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."
The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development continues.
