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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Reception

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio 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 a key figure updated team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year together with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Face the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that evolve every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can anticipate further news as production progresses.