The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Response
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a clearer game identity.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
Trend of Key Hires
The news mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Here is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.
His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue observing the development of the game in the months to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the category."
"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 states. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your team can secure victory? The option is up to you."
The game does not have an confirmed release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as development advances.
