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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a clearer vision.

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

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that shift every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as development continues.