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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a more defined direction.

The president expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben next week. We are all eager to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as production advances.