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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined direction.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

The news follows a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Face the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your group can secure victory? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as creation continues.