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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct direction.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the full content from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. After some time of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all eager to continue observing the development of the game in the months to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."

"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 states. "Face the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that change every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or consoles, but players can expect additional details as development continues.