The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Poor Response
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct vision.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Strategic Hires
This announcement echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Here is the complete message from Ismailer's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following a period of talks, he officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to persist observing the development of the game in the time to ahead.
The President
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an official release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation advances.
