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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Mixed Reception

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a more defined direction.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our players.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all looking forward to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title 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! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Face the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that change every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your group can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or supported systems, but players can expect further news as production progresses.