The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Response
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct game identity.
The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete text from the president's announcement:
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 sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a more distinct vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our audience.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming him next week. We are all eager to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.
David
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The option is yours."
The game lacks an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as creation continues.
