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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete content from the president's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His management and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and tests that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game has not yet received an official release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect further news as production progresses.