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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Reception

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the need for a clearer vision.

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

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire text from the president's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. After several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having devoted the recent years developing and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to continue seeing the development of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game does not have an official debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as creation advances.