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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct game identity.

The president noted that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our fans.

The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. After several months of discussions, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep observing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative 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 unique powers, challenges, and challenges that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game lacks an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as creation advances.