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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a more defined game identity.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having dedicated the recent years producing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to persist seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting 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 reads. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every match. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as production progresses.