The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Poor Feedback
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a more defined game identity.
The president stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement echoes a similar action 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 complete message from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a clearer identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of talks, he starts with us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to persist witnessing the progress of the game in the time to come.
David
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person 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 fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and tests that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your squad can secure victory? The decision is up to you."
The game lacks an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but fans can anticipate additional details as production continues.
