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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer direction.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. After a period of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the time to come.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting 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 fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Face the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your team can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as creation progresses.