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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit 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 a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a clearer game identity.

The president noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire content from the president's communication:

Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. Following several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on next week.

His management and expertise in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to continue observing the progress of the game in the time to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Take on the competition with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The option is yours."

The game has not yet received an official debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production advances.