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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Poor Response

The new appointee takes on 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 Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a more defined direction.

The president expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement follows a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter space is vast, having spent the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to keep seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"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 description reads. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, challenges, and tests that shift every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your team can secure victory? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an announced release date or supported systems, but players can expect more updates as development advances.