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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined direction.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our fans.

The trust in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following several months of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all looking forward to keep observing the development of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the genre."

"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 official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and tests that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an official release date or consoles, but fans can anticipate further news as creation continues.