The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Response
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined direction.
The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised focus, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Key Hires
The news echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete text from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a more distinct identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all eager to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to follow.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and tests that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or consoles, but fans can expect more updates as development continues.
