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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 action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Response

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct direction.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the new Director of the team. After some time of talks, he comes aboard us on next week.

His management and experience in the PVP shooter space is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to persist observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as creation progresses.