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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined game identity.

The president stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full content from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our players.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. Following a period of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Face the opponents with unique powers, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

The game lacks an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but players can anticipate additional details as development continues.