The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Transition Comes After Poor Feedback
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a distinct direction.
The president noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
The news mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.
Here is the entire message from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a clearer identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
Our confidence in this project increases every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.
His management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to persist seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that change every match. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or consoles, but fans can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.
