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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full text from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, he comes aboard us on next week.

His management and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling 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. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed release date or platforms, but players can anticipate more updates as creation advances.