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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman takes on the leadership position 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.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a clearer vision.

The president noted that the developers is now refining the project with a revised focus, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”

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

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Take on the competition with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that change every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

The game does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as production continues.