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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full content from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time 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 developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

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

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having devoted the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to persist seeing the progress of the game in the time to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that change every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."

The game lacks an official launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as creation advances.