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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Reception

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a similar step 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 entire content from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our players.

The belief in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution 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 explains. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that change every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The option is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or consoles, but fans can anticipate more updates as creation progresses.