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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The belief in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or platforms, but fans can look forward to further news as production advances.