The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Reception
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a clearer vision.
Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete content from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to heart and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of talks, Ben starts with us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the recent years producing and managing some of the most popular series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving Ben next week. We are all excited to keep witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."
The game lacks an announced debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as development continues.
