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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming 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 departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having spent the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to come.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an official release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as production progresses.