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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman 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 the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a distinct vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining the project with a revised vision, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

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

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our players.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. After several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the time to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a early access event. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement 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 match your preferred approach," the description states. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as production advances.