The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Mixed Reception
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer vision.
The president noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
The news mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full text from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”
With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.
His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all eager to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.
David
Background of the New Head
Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, risks, and challenges that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
The game does not have an announced release date or consoles, but players can look forward to additional details as production progresses.
