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

Leadership Change Follows Poor Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to consideration and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our players.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and tests that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and trust your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."

The game lacks an confirmed release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as production continues.