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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

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

Here is the entire text from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct brand.

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

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to continue observing the development of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an announced launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as development progresses.