The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Change Follows Poor Response
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct game identity.
The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
The news echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete content from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a clearer vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following a period of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Face the competition with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that evolve every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
The game lacks an official release date or supported systems, but players can expect further news as development advances.
