The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Follows Poor Response
Brinkman takes on 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 lackluster initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer game identity.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news follows a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full text from Ismailer's memo:
Team—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our players.
The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the recent years developing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting him soon. We are all excited to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the time to come.
The President
Background of the New Leader
The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed 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 Vision
Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or supported systems, but players can anticipate further news as production continues.
