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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.

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

Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the recent years creating and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Face the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and tests that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or supported systems, but players can look forward to more updates as production progresses.