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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer vision.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire content from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, he starts with us on next week.

His management and background in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all eager to keep seeing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a early access event. Then, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that change every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or consoles, but fans can expect additional details as production continues.