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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct vision.

The president stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

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

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following some time of talks, he starts with us on the specified date.

His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep observing the progress of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 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 real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your group can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as creation continues.