🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee takes on 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' disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a clearer game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of the team. After a period of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

His management and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the development of the game in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"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 game's pitch reads. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and trust your team can secure victory? The option is yours."

The game lacks an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as creation continues.