The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Comes After Mixed Response
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined vision.
Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a more distinct vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our fans.
The trust in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
The President
Experience of the New Head
The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Face the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and tests that change every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."
The game has not yet received an confirmed launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as production continues.
