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

Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Response

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full text from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Lead of the team. After a period of conversations, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him next week. We are all excited to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that evolve every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

The game does not have an announced release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as development advances.