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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a more defined vision.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our players.

The belief in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. After some time of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as development continues.