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

Management Shift Comes After Poor Response

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a distinct direction.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete content from the president's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the category."

"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 description reads. "Face the competition with unique powers, risks, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as development advances.