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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer game identity.

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

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the development of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting 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 fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or supported systems, but fans can anticipate more updates as production advances.