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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer vision.

The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full text from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

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

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the feedback to heart and reimagined the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and tests that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your squad can secure victory? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or platforms, but fans can look forward to more updates as development continues.