The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Follows Poor Feedback
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a clearer game identity.
The president stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised focus, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
The news follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire message from the president's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. Following a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to persist witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that change every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced debut schedule or platforms, but fans can expect more updates as creation progresses.
