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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

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

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full content from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our players.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in last year together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that change every session. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your team can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to more updates as production continues.