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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Mixed Reception

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the requirement for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete content from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, risks, and challenges that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game does not have an official release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as creation continues.