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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full content from the president's memo:

Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

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

The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. Following a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all eager to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or consoles, but players can look forward to further news as creation progresses.