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 upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Follows Poor Response
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a more defined vision.
Ismailer noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement follows a similar move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete text from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our fans.
Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving him soon. We are all excited to persist witnessing the development of the game in the months to come.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year together with a public demo. Then, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that change every round. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The option is in your hands."
Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as development advances.
