The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Feedback
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct direction.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Key Hires
The news echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full message from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a sharper identity.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to consideration and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of the team. After several months of talks, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the recent years creating and managing some of the most well-known series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."
The game does not have an announced release date or platforms, but fans can look forward to more updates as creation advances.
