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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined vision.

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

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year alongside a early access event. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"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 official summary explains. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, risks, and tests that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or supported systems, but fans can expect further news as development progresses.