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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in 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 iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

The game does not have an announced debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as production advances.