The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Follows Poor Reception
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Hires
The news mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the full text from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a more distinct vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our fans.
Our confidence in this project increases every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
His guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the recent years producing and leading some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all looking forward to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.
The President
Experience of the New Head
The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but players can look forward to more updates as production advances.
