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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the requirement for a distinct vision.

The president stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our players.

The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. After a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 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 match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

The game lacks an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as production advances.