The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, 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 staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer noted that the team is now refining the project with a revised vision, aiming to address gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire message from Ismailer's communication:
Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a sharper identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our fans.
The belief in this project grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. After a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most well-known series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Face the competition with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."
The game does not have an announced release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as creation progresses.
