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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a more defined direction.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete message from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement 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 states. "Take on the competition with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

The game does not have an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation advances.