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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Response

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full message from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting Ben soon. We are all excited to continue witnessing the development of the game in the time to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a public demo. Then, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Face the opponents with new abilities, risks, and challenges that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your group can secure victory? The option is up to you."

The game lacks an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as production advances.