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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Follows Poor Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.

The president stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming him next week. We are all eager to persist witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

The game lacks an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development advances.