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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Response

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time 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 talented developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all excited to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Face the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but players can expect more updates as development progresses.