The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Change Follows Poor Reception
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined direction.
The president noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Strategic Hires
This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full content from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following several months of conversations, he officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all eager to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
The President
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or platforms, but fans can anticipate more updates as creation advances.
