The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Feedback
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer direction.
The president stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Hires
This announcement follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full text from the president's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the recent years producing and leading some of the most popular franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously 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.
Title Information and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the category."
"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 official summary reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can secure victory? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or platforms, but fans can expect further news as production progresses.
