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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Poor Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer vision.

The president stated that the team is now refining the project with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

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

Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our fans.

The belief in this project increases every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to keep seeing the development of the game in the time to follow.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"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 description states. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that change every session. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your team can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or platforms, but players can expect additional details as creation advances.