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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Response

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His management and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to continue observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

The game lacks an official launch window or supported systems, but players can anticipate additional details as creation continues.