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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Response

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined game identity.

The president stated that the team is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our players.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all eager to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that shift every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or consoles, but players can look forward to more updates as creation advances.