The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a more defined direction.
Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
The news echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire message from Ismailer's communication:
Team—
I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and leading some of the most popular franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all eager to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the months to come.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or consoles, but fans can expect further news as development advances.
