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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Reception

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed staff about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.

The president stated that the developers is now refining the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

The news follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our players.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following a period of conversations, he starts with us on next week.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having spent the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all excited to persist seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"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 official summary explains. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and obstacles that change every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official debut schedule or supported systems, but players can expect additional details as production continues.