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 anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Feedback
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct vision.
The president stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
The news follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full text from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most popular series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
David
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and hope your squad can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."
Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as creation progresses.
