The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer game identity.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full message from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our audience.
The trust in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
The President
Background of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Take on the competition with unique powers, risks, and tests that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or supported systems, but fans can expect additional details as creation continues.
