The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Mixed Reception
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer direction.
The president noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full content from Ismailer's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year together with a early access event. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the style."
"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 official summary explains. "Face the competition with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that change every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."
The game does not have an official launch window or consoles, but players can anticipate more updates as development continues.
