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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full content from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

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

The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to heart and overhauled the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben next week. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and trust your team can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but players can anticipate more updates as development advances.