The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Reception
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer vision.
Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire text from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, he starts with us on next week.
His management and experience in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep observing the progress of the game in the weeks to come.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that shift every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or consoles, but fans can look forward to additional details as production advances.
