The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Response
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct game identity.
The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete text from the president's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our fans.
The belief in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.
His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all excited to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.
David
Experience of the New Leader
The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or platforms, but players can anticipate additional details as development progresses.
