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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Response

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a more defined direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all excited to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

The game has not yet received an announced launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as development continues.