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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined direction.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following a period of conversations, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse 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 revealed in last year alongside a early access event. Then, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can anticipate additional details as creation progresses.