The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Feedback
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.
The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.
Trend of Key Hires
This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.
Here is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its ambition to our fans.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the new Director of the team. Following a period of discussions, he comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to persist observing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
The President
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that shift every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."
The game lacks an official release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as development continues.
