🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee 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 the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer game identity.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist seeing the development of the game in the time to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that change every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

The game does not have an official release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as creation continues.