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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer vision.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to heart and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"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 game's pitch reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that shift every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

The game does not have an official launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as production progresses.