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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a distinct direction.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

The news echoes a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the recent years developing and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him next week. We are all eager to continue observing the development of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution 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 match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Face the opponents with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that change every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or supported systems, but players can look forward to further news as development advances.