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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Reception

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a clearer vision.

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

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His management and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving him next week. We are all looking forward to continue observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."

The game has not yet received an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as development progresses.