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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire message from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

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

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. Following some time of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most popular series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving him next week. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience 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 real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your team can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an official release date or supported systems, but fans can anticipate additional details as creation progresses.