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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Poor Reception

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer game identity.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the full text from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the recent years creating and managing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to continue observing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that evolve every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or consoles, but fans can look forward to more updates as production continues.