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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a distinct direction.

The president stated that the team is now refining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire content from the president's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our players.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

His management and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and obstacles that change every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as development continues.