The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Response
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a more defined direction.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.
Below is the full text from the president's memo:
Team—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a clearer brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our players.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, he comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the recent years creating and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to persist seeing the progress of the game in the time to follow.
The President
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and tests that change every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."
The game does not have an announced launch window or platforms, but players can anticipate more updates as production advances.
