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

Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a clearer vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news follows a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the full message from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all looking forward to persist observing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your squad can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as development progresses.