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

Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Reception

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a distinct vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to keep seeing the progress of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the genre."

"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 description explains. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and tests that change every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an official release date or platforms, but players can expect additional details as development progresses.