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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a more defined direction.

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

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.

His management and experience in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all eager to continue observing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 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! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but fans can look forward to more updates as development advances.