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The renowned publisher has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman steps into 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 the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the necessity for a clearer game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher 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:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our players.

The belief in this project grows every day. To boost the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Director of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years developing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all eager to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Then, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and tests that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."

The game does not have an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as creation continues.