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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Mixed Reception

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer direction.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After a period of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all excited to keep seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the category."

"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 official summary explains. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and trust your squad can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an official release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as creation advances.