The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Transition Follows Poor Feedback
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer game identity.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full text from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a sharper identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our audience.
The belief in this project strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of the team. After several months of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to continue observing the development of the game in the time to follow.
David
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the position 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 series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can secure victory? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but fans can anticipate additional details as production progresses.
