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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct vision.

The president noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, Ben starts with us on next week.

His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.

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 was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution 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 fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and tests that shift every round. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

The game has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but players can expect further news as production advances.