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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a clearer vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or consoles, but players can expect more updates as development progresses.