The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Mixed Reception
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined vision.
Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to address player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Hires
The news mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the complete text from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I understand 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 update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a more distinct brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our players.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben starts with us on next week.
His management and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the recent years creating and managing some of the most well-known series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
The President
Background of the New Head
Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in last year in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."
The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but players can look forward to more updates as development continues.
