The Gaming Giant Hires Apex Legends Developer to Rescue Troubled Action Game Project Ethos

The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer vision.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full content from the president's memo:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our audience.

The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After some time of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His management and experience in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting him soon. We are all excited to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement 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 fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

The game has not yet received an official release date or supported systems, but players can anticipate more updates as production continues.