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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 Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated 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 partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

His leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your squad can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

The game does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but fans can look forward to additional details as development progresses.