The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Feedback
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a clearer vision.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining the project with a revised focus, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
The news follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full content from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our fans.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the recent years creating and leading some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to keep seeing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in last year alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Face the rivals with unique powers, risks, and tests that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your group can secure victory? The option is yours."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or consoles, but players can anticipate additional details as production continues.
