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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Response

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire content from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

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

The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the style."

"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 reads. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and pray your team can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or supported systems, but players can look forward to additional details as development progresses.