The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Reception
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader 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 David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Key Recruitment
The news follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.
Here is the complete message from Ismailer's communication:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting him next week. We are all eager to keep observing the evolution of the game in the months to come.
The President
Background of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution 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 explains. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that change every round. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and trust your group can secure victory? The decision is up to you."
The game lacks an official release date or consoles, but fans can expect further news as production progresses.
