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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Poor Reception

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct direction.

The president expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news echoes a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

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

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

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

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following a period of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

His management and experience in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him next week. We are all excited to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, stakes, and tests that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your squad can secure victory? The decision is yours."

The game lacks an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as creation advances.