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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news follows a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

His management and experience in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a early access event. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Face the opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that change every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to more updates as creation progresses.