The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer vision.
Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full content from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling 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 description reads. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that change every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."
The game lacks an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can expect more updates as creation continues.
