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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct vision.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our fans.

The trust in this project increases every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His management and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving him next week. We are all looking forward to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a public demo. Then, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that change every match. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your group can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or supported systems, but fans can anticipate additional details as creation continues.