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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most popular series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Take on the competition with new abilities, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as development continues.