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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Response

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

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct game identity.

The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to continue witnessing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year together with a public demo. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, risks, and tests that change every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and trust your squad can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or supported systems, but fans can anticipate more updates as development progresses.