The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer game identity.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.
Trend of Key Hires
This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Here is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our players.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. Following a period of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that evolve every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."
The game does not have an official release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as production continues.