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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined vision.

The president stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full content from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Take on the competition with unique powers, risks, and tests that change every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your squad can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but players can expect more updates as development continues.