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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Mixed Response

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a clearer direction.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire content from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the recent years developing and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep observing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an announced launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation continues.