The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined vision.
Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
The news follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire content from Ismailer's memo:
Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”
With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of talks, he starts with us on the specified date.
Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having dedicated the recent years developing and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to continue observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.
David
Experience of the New Leader
The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the style."
"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 states. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and tests that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."
Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as development advances.
