🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Lukewarm Response

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to continue.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. Following a period of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben next week. We are all excited to persist witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Face the opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that shift every session. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, risk it all, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

The game has not yet received an official debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as creation continues.