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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined vision.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist observing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, 31st Union described the title 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 description states. "Face the competition with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."

The game has not yet received an official launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as creation continues.