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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Response

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our players.

The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that change every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your squad can secure victory? The option is up to you."

The game has not yet received an announced release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as development advances.