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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the need for a clearer direction.

The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

His management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the recent years creating and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

The game does not have an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can look forward to further news as creation advances.