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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Poor Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a more defined vision.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete text from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

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

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your group can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an official release date or supported systems, but players can look forward to additional details as production continues.