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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Response

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. After a period of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the style."

"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 explains. "Face the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that shift every session. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an official release date or consoles, but fans can expect more updates as creation advances.