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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.

The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised focus, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to consideration and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he starts with us on next week.

His management and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the development of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Face the competition with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that change every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or consoles, but players can expect additional details as creation progresses.