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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Response

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer game identity.

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 Hires

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the progress of the game in the months to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution 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 official summary explains. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your squad can secure victory? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or consoles, but fans can expect additional details as creation progresses.