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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Mixed Response

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

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer vision.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

The belief in this project increases every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of the team. After some time of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep seeing the development of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

The game does not have an announced debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as creation advances.