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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete content from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our audience.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. Following a period of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the progress of the game in the time to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or platforms, but players can expect additional details as development advances.