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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a clearer vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news mirrors a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed 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.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most popular series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all excited to persist seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution 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 game's pitch reads. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, risks, and challenges that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your team can secure victory? The decision is yours."

The game has not yet received an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but players can look forward to additional details as development progresses.