The Gaming Giant Hires Popular Battle Royale Developer to Boost Challenged Hero Shooter Project Ethos

The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete content from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our audience.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

His management and experience in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the recent years producing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a early access event. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an official release date or supported systems, but players can expect more updates as development continues.