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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer direction.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full content from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our audience.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having devoted the recent years producing and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to persist witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the style."

"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 description reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that shift every match. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

The game lacks an official release date or consoles, but players can look forward to further news as creation advances.