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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined game identity.

The president expressed that the team is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete content from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. After some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving him 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 currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and tests that change every match. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as development continues.