The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Follows Mixed Feedback
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer direction.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining the project with a revised vision, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Below is the entire content from Ismailer's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following several months of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to keep observing the progress of the game in the months to come.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward 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 match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as creation progresses.
