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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a more defined direction.

The president noted that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete text from the president's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. After several months of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the recent years producing and leading some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him next week. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the development of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Face the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or platforms, but players can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.