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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire content from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. After a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue seeing the development of the game in the time to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year together with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward 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 description states. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an announced launch window or platforms, but fans can look forward to further news as development advances.