The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Follows Poor Feedback
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a more defined vision.
The president stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:
Team—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our players.
The trust in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following some time of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the recent years creating and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
The President
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative 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 match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The option is in your hands."
Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but players can anticipate further news as development advances.
