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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a clearer direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to heart and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. After several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having devoted the recent years producing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to continue witnessing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective 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! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Take on the competition with new abilities, challenges, and tests that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation advances.