The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Response
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined direction.
Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
The news mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete content from Ismailer's memo:
Team—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a more distinct identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our fans.
The trust in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. Following some time of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.
His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
David
Background of the New Head
The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Face the competition with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an official release date or supported systems, but players can expect further news as production progresses.
