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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a distinct vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our fans.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the progress of the game in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your squad can secure victory? The choice is yours."

The game lacks an official release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as creation continues.