The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Follows Mixed Feedback
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined direction.
Ismailer noted that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Key Hires
This announcement echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full message from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our audience.
The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. After some time of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as development continues.
