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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 working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news echoes a comparable action 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 entire message from the president's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. Following some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement 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 game's pitch reads. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that change every round. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but fans can anticipate additional details as development advances.