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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer direction.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full text from the president's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

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

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having spent the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Face the rivals with unique powers, risks, and tests that change every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or consoles, but players can expect more updates as development continues.