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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 third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined game identity.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

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

The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our players.

The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to persist witnessing the progress of the game in the months to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Face the competition with fresh skills, risks, and tests that change every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, gamble everything, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as creation progresses.