The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Follows Mixed Feedback
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a more defined vision.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full message from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our players.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.
His management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the recent years producing and managing some of the most popular series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of the game in the time to ahead.
David
Background of the New Head
Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."
Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but fans can expect further news as creation advances.
