The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Comes After Mixed Feedback
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a distinct direction.
The president stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Hires
This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full message from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to heart and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our audience.
The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the progress of the game in the months to come.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a early access event. Initially, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your group can secure victory? The decision is up to you."
The game lacks an official release date or platforms, but players can anticipate further news as creation progresses.
