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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.

The president stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete content from the president's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our players.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. Following some time of conversations, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter space is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Face the competition with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your team can secure victory? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as development progresses.