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

Management Shift Comes After Poor Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the requirement for a distinct direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. Following some time of talks, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution 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 fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your team can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as creation advances.