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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a distinct vision.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on next week.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having spent the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben next week. We are all excited to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that change every round. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as creation advances.