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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Poor Response

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a clearer vision.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Key Hires

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

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that change every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

The game has not yet received an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but players can expect further news as development progresses.