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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer game identity.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, Ben starts with us on next week.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that change every session. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your squad can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or consoles, but players can expect additional details as production advances.