The Gaming Giant Hires Apex Legends Developer to Revitalize Struggling Hero Shooter Ambitious Title

The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a more defined direction.

The president noted that the team is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

The news echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full text from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter space is vast, having dedicated the recent years creating and managing some of the most popular series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

The game does not have an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can anticipate further news as creation continues.