The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Response
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a distinct direction.
The president noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Here is the complete message from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our players.
The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. After some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in greeting Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that change every session. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your team can secure victory? The choice is up to you."
The game does not have an announced release date or platforms, but fans can anticipate further news as creation continues.
