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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a more defined direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to heart and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and managing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that change every round. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

The game has not yet received an official launch window or supported systems, but players can expect further news as creation advances.