The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Transition Comes After Poor Feedback
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined direction.
The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete message from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in greeting Ben next week. We are all eager to keep observing the development of the game in the time to ahead.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, risks, and tests that change every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your squad can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."
Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or platforms, but players can look forward to additional details as development continues.
