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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben starts with us on next week.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the recent years creating and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue observing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and tests that change every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or supported systems, but players can anticipate additional details as creation continues.