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

Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer vision.

The president stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete text from the president's communication:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our players.

The belief in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the development of the game in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Face the opponents with new abilities, risks, and tests that shift every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, risk it all, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed release date or platforms, but players can look forward to further news as development progresses.