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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Mixed Reception

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct game identity.

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

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

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 enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our players.

The trust in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following some time of conversations, he starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all excited to persist seeing the development of the game in the time to follow.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"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 explains. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that evolve every round. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an official release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation progresses.