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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct vision.

The president noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our players.

The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. Following a period of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

His management and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Face the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and tests that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and trust your squad can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as development continues.