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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete message from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His leadership and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or platforms, but players can look forward to further news as development progresses.