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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a more defined vision.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having devoted the recent years developing and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all excited to persist witnessing the development of the game in the time to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Face the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and tests that evolve every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as development advances.