The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined vision.
The president expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
The news echoes a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our audience.
The belief in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, he starts with us on next week.
His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all excited to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.
David
Experience of the New Head
The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Take on the competition with unique powers, challenges, and tests that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to further news as production continues.
