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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the full content from the president's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep observing the development of the game in the months to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 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 fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Face the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as production progresses.