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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Mixed Response

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer game identity.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After some time of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

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

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year together with a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Face the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your squad can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but players can anticipate additional details as creation continues.