The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Transition Comes After Mixed Feedback
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a clearer direction.
The president stated that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address player expectations.
Trend of Key Hires
The news echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire text from the president's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”
With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a more distinct vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
His leadership and background in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to keep witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.
David
Background of the New Head
The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
The game has not yet received an official launch window or supported systems, but players can expect more updates as creation progresses.
