The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Change Follows Mixed Feedback
The new appointee assumes 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' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined vision.
The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Hires
This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete message from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust 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 group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a sharper identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.
His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to persist seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Face the competition with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The option is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as production advances.
