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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Poor Feedback

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a clearer vision.

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

Trend of Key Recruitment

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

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having dedicated the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that shift every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your squad can secure victory? The option is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as creation progresses.