The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Poor Reception
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a clearer direction.
The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete text from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our audience.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, he starts with us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to follow.
David
Experience of the New Head
The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 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 real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Face the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."
The game has not yet received an confirmed launch window or platforms, but fans can expect additional details as creation continues.
