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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer vision.

Ismailer stated that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to continue seeing the development of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward 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 reads. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that change every match. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your group can secure victory? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as creation advances.