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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, 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 strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct game identity.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to persist witnessing the development of the game in the months to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"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 reads. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your squad can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

The game lacks an confirmed launch window or platforms, but fans can expect more updates as production progresses.