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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously 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 innovative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following some time of conversations, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary reads. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that shift every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can secure victory? The choice is yours."

The game does not have an official debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as creation progresses.