The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Mixed Feedback
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a more defined direction.
The president noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a sharper identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. Following several months of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and managing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist seeing the development of the game in the months to ahead.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution 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 match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that change every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."
Project Ethos lacks an official release date or consoles, but players can expect additional details as production continues.
