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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire text from the president's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most recognizable series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the competition with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

The game has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but fans can look forward to further news as production progresses.