The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Follows Poor Reception
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined game identity.
The president noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised approach, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Hires
This announcement follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Below is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our players.
The trust in this project increases every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. 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.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting 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 official summary states. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that change every match. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development continues.
