The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined direction.
Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
The news echoes a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.
Here is the full message from Ismailer's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a more distinct brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our players.
The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. Following several months of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the recent years developing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
The President
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."
The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as creation continues.
