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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 working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined vision.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"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 official summary explains. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an announced launch window or consoles, but fans can anticipate further news as development continues.