The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Response
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a more defined vision.
The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Below is the full content from Ismailer's communication:
Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a sharper vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all excited to persist seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
The President
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an official debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as creation advances.