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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to consideration and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist observing the progress of the game in the months to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or consoles, but players can expect more updates as creation advances.