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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Response

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.

His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having spent the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him next week. We are all eager to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

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

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Face the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as development continues.