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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a more defined vision.

The president stated that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full message from the president's memo:

Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our audience.

The belief in this project increases every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His management and background in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming him next week. We are all eager to persist observing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. Then, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement 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 suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that evolve every match. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

The game lacks an official launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to further news as creation continues.