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 over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined game identity.
The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Key Recruitment
The news echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Here is the full message from Ismailer's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our players.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. After a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His management and experience in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your squad can secure victory? The option is up to you."
The game does not have an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development continues.
