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

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a distinct vision.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full message from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

The trust in this project increases 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 several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Face the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or platforms, but players can anticipate more updates as creation advances.