The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Feedback
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer direction.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the full content from the president's announcement:
Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our players.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the recent years developing and managing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue observing the development of the game in the time to ahead.
The President
Experience 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 earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and tests that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or platforms, but fans can anticipate more updates as production continues.
