The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a distinct vision.
Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Key Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the entire message from the president's announcement:
Team—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a more distinct identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. After a period of talks, he starts with us on next week.
His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all eager to keep witnessing the development of the game in the months to come.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement 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 suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Face the opponents with new abilities, risks, and tests that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or take a risk, risk it all, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or platforms, but players can look forward to further news as production advances.
