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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Response

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a sharper brand.

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

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a early access event. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that change every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your team can secure victory? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but fans can look forward to additional details as creation continues.