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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our players.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having dedicated the recent years developing and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a public demo. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."

"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 game's pitch reads. "Face the competition with new abilities, stakes, and tests that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your team can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."

The game does not have an announced launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as development continues.