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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Response

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our audience.

The belief in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he starts with us on next week.

His management and experience in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the development of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently 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 various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution 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 match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as creation continues.