The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Comes After Poor Feedback
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
The news mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the complete text from the president's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a sharper brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to consideration and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all eager to keep observing the development of the game in the weeks to come.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution 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 official summary reads. "Face the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."
The game does not have an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as development continues.
