The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Response
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct vision.
The president noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full message from Ismailer's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”
With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. Following some time of talks, Ben starts with us on next week.
His management and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having spent the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
The President
Experience of the Incoming 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 diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The option is yours."
The game has not yet received an official release date or consoles, but fans can anticipate further news as creation progresses.
