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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. Following several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

His management and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Face the opponents with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as creation continues.