🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Response

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a more defined vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to consideration and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an official release date or supported systems, but fans can anticipate more updates as development continues.