The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Comes After Mixed Response
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a more defined direction.
The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Here is the entire content from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”
With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, he comes aboard us on the specified date.
His management and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
David
Background of the New Head
The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Face the competition with new abilities, challenges, and tests that change every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or platforms, but players can look forward to additional details as production progresses.
