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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Response

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

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the full message from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having devoted the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, risks, and tests that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as production continues.