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

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our players.

The trust in this project increases every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following a period of talks, he starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of the game in the time to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter 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 official summary explains. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or platforms, but fans can look forward to additional details as production continues.