The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a distinct direction.
The president noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
The news echoes a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete text from Ismailer's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our fans.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having devoted the recent years producing and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
The President
Background of the New Head
The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the style."
"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 states. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that evolve every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or platforms, but players can look forward to further news as creation continues.
