🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Response

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct direction.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, risks, and tests that change every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and pray your group can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or platforms, but players can expect further news as creation progresses.