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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined game identity.

The president stated that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full message from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”

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

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. After several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His management and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having devoted the recent years producing and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution 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 suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that change every round. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or consoles, but players can expect further news as production progresses.