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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct direction.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from the president's communication:

Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. After a period of talks, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title 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! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description explains. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that change every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as production advances.