The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Comes After Mixed Reception
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a clearer vision.
Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Hires
This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.
Below is the complete content from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. 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 creative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to heart and revamped the title with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our fans.
The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having dedicated the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the time to come.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Take on the competition with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."
The game has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as development progresses.
