The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Response
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct vision.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete message from the president's communication:
Team—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a clearer vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.
The trust in this project grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.
His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having devoted the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to keep observing the progress of the game in the months to come.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."
The game has not yet received an official release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as development advances.
