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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct game identity.

The president noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full text from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all excited to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a early access event. Initially, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that change every match. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can secure victory? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but players can expect more updates as production progresses.