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 crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct vision.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
The news follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.
Below is the entire content from Ismailer's communication:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”
With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a more distinct identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our audience.
The trust in this project increases every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.
His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist witnessing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.
The President
Background of the New Leader
The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement 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 match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Take on the competition with unique powers, risks, and challenges that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but players can anticipate additional details as development progresses.
