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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined game identity.

The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire text from the president's memo:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.

The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to continue observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

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

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and tests that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your squad can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development progresses.