🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a more defined direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire content from the president's communication:

Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His management and background in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the recent years creating and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the development of the game in the time to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 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! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or consoles, but players can expect further news as development advances.