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

Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete message from the president's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His management and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a public demo. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative 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 reads. "Face the competition with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your team can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

The game has not yet received an official release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.