🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer game identity.

The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the full message from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. Following several months of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.

His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all eager to persist seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, challenges, and tests that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as development continues.