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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct vision.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement 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 fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or supported systems, but players can look forward to further news as production progresses.