The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Follows Poor Feedback
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a more defined game identity.
Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.
Below is the entire message from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to keep seeing the progress of the game in the time to come.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."
The game has not yet received an announced release date or consoles, but players can expect more updates as development advances.
