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

Leadership Change Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct vision.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire content from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our audience.

The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After some time of discussions, he starts with us on next week.

His management and expertise in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to persist seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Take on the competition with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that change every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, risk it all, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or platforms, but fans can expect additional details as creation advances.