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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 developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

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

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the requirement for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our players.

The belief in this project increases every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most popular series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward 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 fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Face the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and tests that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your group can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development continues.