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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a distinct game identity.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and tests that change every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced launch window or consoles, but fans can anticipate additional details as creation continues.