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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a distinct direction.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

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

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the recent years developing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in last year together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Face the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and tests that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but fans can anticipate further news as production progresses.