The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Follows Mixed Response
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer direction.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Key Hires
The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire content from the president's communication:
Team—
I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. After some time of conversations, he officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all excited to continue observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and tests that evolve every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but players can anticipate further news as development progresses.
