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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Mixed Response

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 Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a more defined direction.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to persist observing the development of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."

"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 reads. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that change every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to further news as development advances.