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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Response

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.

The president stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete text from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that change every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."

The game lacks an confirmed release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as production progresses.