The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a clearer direction.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Key Recruitment
The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete text from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the recent years creating and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Face the competition with new abilities, risks, and tests that evolve every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or consoles, but players can look forward to further news as development continues.
