The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct direction.
The president stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
The news follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full content from the president's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a sharper brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in greeting Ben soon. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the development of the game in the time to come.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution 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 fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that change every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."
The game does not have an announced debut schedule or platforms, but players can anticipate additional details as production continues.
