The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Poor Feedback
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' disappointing unveiling last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer game identity.
The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
The news mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete content from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our players.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His management and experience in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving him next week. We are all looking forward to continue observing the progress of the game in the weeks to come.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Take on the competition with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."
The game lacks an announced debut schedule or consoles, but fans can anticipate more updates as production progresses.
