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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.

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

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming him next week. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your group can secure victory? The option is yours."

The game does not have an announced release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as production progresses.