The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Comes After Poor Feedback
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a more defined direction.
Ismailer noted that the team is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Strategic Hires
The news follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete message from the president's memo:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a sharper identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep observing the development of the game in the months to follow.
David
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."
The game has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as development continues.
