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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 crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to keep seeing the development of the game in the months to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"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 explains. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and tests that change every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your group can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

The game lacks an confirmed launch window or consoles, but players can anticipate further news as creation continues.