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

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a more defined game identity.

The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

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

Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a clearer vision.

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

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the time to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming 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 Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Face the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that change every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your team can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or supported systems, but players can anticipate additional details as development advances.