🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic 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 chance to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

The trust in this project increases every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him next week. We are all excited to persist observing the development of the game in the time to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in last year together with a community playtest. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, risks, and tests that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production continues.