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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a clearer direction.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete content from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to heart and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our players.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of talks, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all excited to continue seeing the development of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the position 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 games, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward 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 official summary states. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that shift every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation progresses.