The Gaming Giant Hires Popular Battle Royale Lead to Boost Troubled Hero Shooter Project Ethos

The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full content from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our fans.

The trust in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After several months of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that evolve every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official debut schedule or supported systems, but players can look forward to more updates as production advances.