The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Change Comes After Mixed Feedback
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined vision.
The president expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to better meet community desires.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a more distinct brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.
His management and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to ahead.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a public demo. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Take on the competition with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The option is yours."
The game does not have an confirmed release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as development continues.
