The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Response
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer vision.
The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
The news follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire content from the president's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a clearer identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. Following some time of conversations, he starts with us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the time to come.
David
Experience of the New Head
The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."
The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as development progresses.
