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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a clearer game identity.

The president stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete content from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to mind and revamped the title with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. After a period of discussions, Ben starts with us on next week.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that change every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your team can secure victory? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can expect further news as creation progresses.