The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Poor Reception
The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined vision.
The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the entire message from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our fans.
The belief in this project grows every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the new Lead of the team. Following some time of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the recent years developing and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in greeting Ben next week. We are all looking forward to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.
David
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and tests that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or platforms, but fans can expect further news as creation continues.
