The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Mixed Reception
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct vision.
The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
This announcement follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete content from Ismailer's memo:
Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our players.
The belief in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. Following some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to follow.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the style."
"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 game's pitch reads. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your squad can secure victory? The choice is up to you."
The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or platforms, but fans can expect further news as creation advances.
