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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a distinct direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as excited 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 creative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having devoted the recent years developing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving him next week. We are all looking forward to continue observing the development of the game in the time to come.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and tests that change every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your group can secure victory? The option is up to you."

The game lacks an confirmed release date or platforms, but players can anticipate additional details as production progresses.