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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Reception

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to persist observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and tests that shift every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but fans can expect additional details as production continues.