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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire content from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. After some time of talks, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him next week. We are all excited to continue observing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward 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 match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Face the opponents with new abilities, risks, and tests that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

The game has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but players can anticipate further news as development advances.