The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Poor Response
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined direction.
The president expressed that the team is now refining the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Hires
This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a clearer identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. Following some time of talks, Ben starts with us on next week.
His guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the progress of the game in the time to follow.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
The game has not yet received an official launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as creation progresses.
