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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee assumes 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 early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full content from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all excited to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Take on the competition with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

The game does not have an announced release date or platforms, but players can anticipate additional details as development continues.