The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Feedback
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer game identity.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire content from the president's memo:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. After some time of talks, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His management and background in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to persist seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
David
Background of the New Head
Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your group can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."
The game has not yet received an announced launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as development advances.
