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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a more defined vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. After several months of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year together with a early access event. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

The game does not have an announced release date or platforms, but fans can anticipate additional details as production continues.