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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Poor Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's 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 early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a clearer game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

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

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our fans.

The trust in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on next week.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

The game has not yet received an official release date or consoles, but fans can expect more updates as creation continues.