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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined game identity.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete message from the president's memo:

Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having devoted the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming him next week. We are all looking forward to keep observing the progress of the game in the time to come.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Face the opponents with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an announced launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as production advances.