The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Transition Follows Poor Response
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct direction.
The president expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Key Hires
This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire content from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe 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 eager for that partnership to endure.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a sharper vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our players.
The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After some time of talks, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of the game in the time to come.
The President
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."
The game does not have an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can anticipate more updates as development progresses.
