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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news follows a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

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

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His management and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all excited to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, risks, and tests that change every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game lacks an official release date or consoles, but players can look forward to more updates as creation progresses.