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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. Following several months of conversations, he starts with us on the specified date.

His management and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the recent years producing and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that shift every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your group can secure victory? The option is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an official release date or supported systems, but players can anticipate additional details as development continues.