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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct direction.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

The news echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His leadership and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep observing the progress of the game in the time to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Face the competition with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and pray your group can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed release date or platforms, but players can anticipate more updates as development advances.