The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined vision.
The president noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Hires
The news mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full content from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a sharper identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our fans.
The trust in this project increases every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.
Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having devoted the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all eager to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 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 real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Face the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."
Project Ethos does not have an official release date or platforms, but players can look forward to additional details as production advances.
