The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Transition Follows Mixed Reception
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined game identity.
The president noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full content from the president's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. After some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to continue observing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.
David
Background of the New Leader
The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that change every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, gamble everything, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as production continues.
