The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the requirement for a distinct direction.
Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our audience.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having devoted the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all excited to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that change every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your squad can secure victory? The option is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as development progresses.
