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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously 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 talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to heart and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our players.

The belief in this project increases every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him next week. We are all eager to continue witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Face the competition with unique powers, risks, and challenges that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development advances.