🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined direction.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining the project with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire text from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our audience.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. Following some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the recent years developing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the category."

"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. "Face the competition with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that shift every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an announced launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as production continues.