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

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Response

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a clearer vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining the project with a revised focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the recent years developing and leading some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter 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 live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Face the competition with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed release date or consoles, but fans can anticipate further news as creation continues.