The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Comes After Poor Feedback
The new appointee steps into 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 disappointing initial reveal last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct game identity.
The president noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Key Recruitment
This announcement echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the full text from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”
With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our fans.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.
His management and background in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all eager to keep seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
David
Background of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution 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 suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch reads. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that change every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."
The game does not have an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can expect further news as production continues.
