The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Comes After Poor Feedback
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a clearer vision.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Key Hires
The news echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete content from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. Following several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.
His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all eager to persist seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to come.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and tests that change every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."
Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production progresses.
