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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Response

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer direction.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our players.

The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him next week. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production continues.