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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

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

The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the new Director of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that change every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or supported systems, but fans can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.