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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a more defined vision.

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

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire content from the president's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After a period of talks, he starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having spent the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Take on the competition with unique powers, stakes, and tests that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your group can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

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