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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the need for a clearer vision.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from the president's communication:

Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to mind and revamped the title with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our fans.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to continue observing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, risk it all, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

The game lacks an announced launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as production progresses.