The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head 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 unveiling last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer direction.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
The news mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full content from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. Following some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having dedicated the recent years producing and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the development of the game in the weeks to follow.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Then, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."
Project Ethos does not have an official release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as production advances.
