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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the recent years developing and leading some of the most well-known titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"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 game's pitch explains. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that change every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed release date or consoles, but fans can expect additional details as production advances.