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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Response

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct direction.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to consideration and revamped the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our fans.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward 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 game's pitch reads. "Face the competition with unique powers, risks, and tests that shift every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as creation continues.