The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a clearer vision.
The president expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Hires
The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the entire content from Ismailer's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our players.
The belief in this project increases every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to keep witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.
The President
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the genre."
"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 explains. "Face the competition with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your group can secure victory? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as production advances.
