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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Response

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a more defined direction.

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

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our players.

The belief in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that change every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production advances.