The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a more defined game identity.
The president stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
The news mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the entire message from the president's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”
Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our fans.
The belief in this project increases every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. After a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue observing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."
Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can expect additional details as creation progresses.
