The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Response
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined vision.
The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
This announcement echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire message from Ismailer's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a more distinct identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and managing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to continue observing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.
David
Background of the New Leader
The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a early access event. Then, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your team can secure victory? The option is in your hands."
The game lacks an announced release date or supported systems, but players can anticipate additional details as production continues.
