The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer direction.
Ismailer noted that the team is now refining the project with a revised focus, aiming to address player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
The news echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire text from the president's announcement:
Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our audience.
The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
His management and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Leader
The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Face the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to more updates as development continues.
