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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our players.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to persist observing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Face the competition with unique powers, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but players can look forward to additional details as development continues.