The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Mixed Reception
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a distinct direction.
The president expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
The news echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Below is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a more distinct vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to heart and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming him next week. We are all excited to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.
The President
Background of the New Head
The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Face the rivals with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that change every match. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an official release date or consoles, but players can look forward to further news as creation progresses.
