The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Mixed Reception
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the need for a clearer direction.
The president stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Key Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Here is the full message from the president's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a more distinct vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to heart and overhauled the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. After some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all looking forward to keep observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and tests that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as creation continues.
