The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct game identity.
The president expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Key Recruitment
The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete content from the president's communication:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a more distinct vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our players.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. Following several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that change every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production advances.
