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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a clearer game identity.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

The trust in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After some time of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having spent the recent years developing and managing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the development of the game in the time to come.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Face the competition with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your team can secure victory? The option is yours."

The game lacks an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as development continues.