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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Poor Feedback

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer direction.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

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

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

The belief in this project increases every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. After a period of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.

His management and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all eager to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"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 game's pitch states. "Face the competition with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official debut schedule or consoles, but players can anticipate more updates as development progresses.