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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

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

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep seeing the development of the game in the months to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting 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 description states. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that shift every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

The game does not have an announced launch window or consoles, but fans can expect additional details as creation progresses.