The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Poor Feedback
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct game identity.
The president expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
The news follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete text from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the development of the game in the time to ahead.
The President
Experience of the New Head
The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."
The game does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but players can look forward to additional details as development continues.
