The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer vision.
The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Key Hires
The news echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete text from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. 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 talented developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to heart and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our fans.
Our confidence in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. After a period of talks, he starts with us on next week.
Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to come.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the category."
"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 description reads. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that shift every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your group can secure victory? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can anticipate further news as development continues.
