The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Mixed Response
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' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a clearer direction.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Key Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.
Below is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our players.
The trust in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. Following some time of talks, Ben starts with us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist witnessing the progress of the game in the time to come.
The President
Background of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the category."
"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. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."
The game lacks an official debut schedule or consoles, but players can expect additional details as creation continues.
