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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a clearer vision.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire 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 good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our players.

The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the recent years creating and managing some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward 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 fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an official launch window or consoles, but players can expect additional details as creation advances.