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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete content from the president's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer vision.

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

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. Following several months of discussions, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the development of the game in the months to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or supported systems, but fans can expect additional details as creation continues.