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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Response

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a clearer vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news echoes a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

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

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the new Director of the team. After a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

His management and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having devoted the recent years producing and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting 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 match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Face the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that shift every match. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as creation progresses.