The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined direction.
The president noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Hires
This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.
Here is the full content from the president's announcement:
Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.
The trust in this project increases every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of the team. Following several months of discussions, he comes aboard us on the specified date.
His leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.
The President
Experience of the New Head
The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."
The game lacks an announced release date or platforms, but players can look forward to more updates as production progresses.
