The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Response
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct direction.
The president noted that the team is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
This announcement follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”
With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. After a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to keep witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Leader
The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or platforms, but players can anticipate more updates as creation continues.
