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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the recent years producing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective 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! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your squad can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

The game does not have an confirmed launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to more updates as development continues.