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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined vision.

The president noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward 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 suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and tests that evolve every round. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game has not yet received an confirmed launch window or platforms, but players can expect further news as creation advances.