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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Mixed Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a clearer direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective 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! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that change every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game does not have an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as development advances.