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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a clearer direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news echoes a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our audience.

The belief in this project increases every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. After a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

His management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of the game in the time to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year together with a public demo. At the time, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

The game lacks an confirmed release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect additional details as development advances.