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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the requirement for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most well-known series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience 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 live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as production advances.