The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Poor Response
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined vision.
Ismailer stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete text from Ismailer's communication:
Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time 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 talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to keep witnessing the development of the game in the months to follow.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, risks, and challenges that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or supported systems, but players can anticipate more updates as development advances.
