The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Change Comes After Poor Reception
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer vision.
The president stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
The news follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.
Here is the entire message from the president's communication:
Team—
I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a sharper brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.
The trust in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. After some time of talks, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
His management and background in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having spent the recent years producing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and tests that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."
Project Ethos lacks an announced launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation progresses.
