The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Mixed Feedback
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.
Ismailer noted that the team is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full message from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”
With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our fans.
Our confidence in this project increases every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue observing the development of the game in the weeks to follow.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, challenges, and tests that change every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."
The game has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development progresses.
