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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the need for a distinct direction.

The president noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our players.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the category."

"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 description reads. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

The game has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as development continues.