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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to heart and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all eager to persist witnessing the development of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that shift every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your squad can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

The game has not yet received an official release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as creation continues.