The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Poor Reception
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined direction.
The president noted that the team is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement echoes a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete message from the president's communication:
Team—
I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our audience.
The belief in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, he starts with us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the progress of the game in the months to follow.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Face the competition with unique powers, risks, and challenges that evolve every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your squad can secure victory? The option is up to you."
The game lacks an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but players can look forward to more updates as creation continues.
