The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Response
The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.
The president expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
This announcement follows a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire text from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After some time of conversations, he starts with us on next week.
His guidance and background in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to come.
The President
Background of the New Head
Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Face the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that change every round. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."
The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but players can look forward to additional details as production continues.
