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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a more defined vision.

The president stated that the team is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our audience.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following several months of talks, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the progress of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that change every round. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your squad can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can anticipate further news as production advances.