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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined vision.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from the president's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. Following some time of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben next week. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Face the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that change every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game does not have an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but fans can anticipate additional details as production continues.