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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Response

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

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

Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our audience.

The belief in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. After several months of discussions, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to persist witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a public demo. Then, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your squad can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or platforms, but players can look forward to more updates as development continues.