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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer direction.

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

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full content from the president's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. After several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Face the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and tests that change every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or platforms, but fans can expect more updates as production continues.