The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Response
The new appointee steps into 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 initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer vision.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement follows a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following some time of discussions, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the development of the game in the months to follow.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is up to you."
The game does not have an official launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as production progresses.
