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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he starts with us on next week.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all eager to continue witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and tests that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or consoles, but fans can look forward to more updates as development continues.