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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined direction.

The president noted that the developers is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, 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 chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years developing and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to continue observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a public demo. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every round. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your group can secure victory? The choice is yours."

The game does not have an announced release date or platforms, but players can anticipate further news as production continues.