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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 anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a clearer direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

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

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our audience.

The belief in this project grows every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and tests that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an official release date or consoles, but fans can look forward to further news as development advances.