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

Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Feedback

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a clearer vision.

The president expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

The news mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our players.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"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 official summary reads. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game lacks an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can anticipate additional details as development continues.