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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic 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 dedicated and innovative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our audience.

The belief in this project increases every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. After several months of conversations, he starts with us on next week.

His management and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the recent years developing and leading some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, stakes, and tests that change every session. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or supported systems, but players can expect further news as creation progresses.