The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined game identity.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
The news echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full text from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent 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 pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our fans.
Our confidence in this project increases every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the new Lead of the team. After some time of conversations, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the recent years producing and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the progress of the game in the time to come.
David
Background of the New Leader
The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Take on the competition with unique powers, risks, and tests that change every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."
The game lacks an official debut schedule or platforms, but fans can anticipate further news as creation continues.
