The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Follows Poor Feedback
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct direction.
The president stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
This announcement follows a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.
Here is the entire content from Ismailer's communication:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a clearer brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our fans.
The trust in this project increases every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
His management and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving him next week. We are all excited to persist seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that change every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
The game lacks an confirmed launch window or consoles, but players can expect further news as production continues.