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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Response

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete text from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our audience.

The belief in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most recognizable series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year alongside a early access event. Then, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as creation advances.