The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Comes After Poor Reception
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a distinct game identity.
The president stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Hires
This announcement follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.
Here is the entire message from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our fans.
The belief in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of the team. Following a period of discussions, he starts with us on next week.
His management and experience in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having dedicated the recent years developing and managing some of the most well-known series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to persist observing the evolution of the game in the months to come.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution 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 fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Face the rivals with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or consoles, but players can anticipate more updates as creation advances.
