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The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

The belief in this project increases every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your team can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."

The game does not have an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as production continues.