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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Poor Response

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct game identity.

The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

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

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to mind and revamped the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. Following several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben next week. We are all eager to continue observing the evolution of the game in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that change every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an announced launch window or supported systems, but players can anticipate additional details as development continues.