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

Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a more defined vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

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

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most popular franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Background of the Incoming Head

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

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective 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 suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Face the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and tests that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

The game does not have an confirmed launch window or platforms, but players can look forward to more updates as production continues.