The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Comes After Mixed Response
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a more defined vision.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining the project with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
The news follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.
Below is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:
Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”
With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a sharper brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.
The President
Background of the New Head
The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and tests that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."
The game lacks an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but fans can anticipate additional details as production continues.
