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 developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Feedback
Brinkman assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.
The president stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed vision, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete content from the president's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our players.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the latest Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to continue seeing the development of the game in the time to come.
The President
Experience 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. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in last year alongside a public demo. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the category."
"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 states. "Face the opponents with unique powers, risks, and tests that change every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can look forward to more updates as development progresses.
