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The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer direction.

Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete text from the president's communication:

Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

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

The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming Ben next week. We are all excited to persist seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that change every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as development advances.