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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined vision.

The president noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire text from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

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

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

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. Following some time of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year together with a community playtest. Then, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Face the rivals with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that change every match. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

The game lacks an official release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.