The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Comes After Poor Reception
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a clearer direction.
The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Acquisitions
This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full text from Ismailer's communication:
Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”
Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our players.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having devoted the recent years producing and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to keep witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.
The President
Background of the New Leader
The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development progresses.
