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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct vision.

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

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete content from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our audience.

The belief in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most popular franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to keep seeing the development of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"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 official summary explains. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and tests that change every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

The game has not yet received an official launch window or consoles, but fans can expect further news as development progresses.