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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete message from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His management and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting Ben next week. We are all eager to persist observing the progress of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented 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 suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game has not yet received an confirmed launch window or platforms, but fans can look forward to additional details as development continues.