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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a clearer game identity.

The president noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a clearer vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following some time of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

His management and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the development of the game in the time to come.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your team can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to additional details as production advances.