The Gaming Giant Brings Onboard Apex Legends Producer to Rescue Troubled Action Game Ambitious Title

The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct vision.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete content from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His management and background in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that shift every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game lacks an confirmed launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation progresses.