The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Feedback
The new appointee 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.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a more defined game identity.
The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete text from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our players.
The trust in this project grows every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue observing the development of the game in the time to ahead.
The President
Background of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 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! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that shift every round. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, gamble everything, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but fans can anticipate more updates as production advances.
