The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Response
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct game identity.
The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete content from the president's communication:
Team—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its potential to our fans.
The trust in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following some time of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.
His management and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years producing and overseeing 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 Ben next week. We are all eager to persist observing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Concept
The upcoming game was unveiled in last year together with a public demo. At the time, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Face the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and challenges that change every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."
The game does not have an official release date or platforms, but fans can expect further news as development advances.
