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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Response

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full content from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. 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 advanced. You accepted the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. Following a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to come.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as development progresses.