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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Reception

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.

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

The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our players.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following some time of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement 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 match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and hope your team can secure victory? The option is up to you."

The game lacks an official debut schedule or consoles, but players can expect additional details as development continues.