The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Response
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a clearer vision.
The president noted that the team is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the full content from the president's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a sharper identity.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. Following a period of conversations, he starts with us on next week.
Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting Ben next week. We are all eager to continue observing the progress of the game in the months to come.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in last year together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the style."
"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 opponents with unique powers, risks, and challenges that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an announced launch window or supported systems, but fans can look forward to additional details as development continues.
