The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback
Brinkman assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a more defined vision.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
The news echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete content from Ismailer's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its ambition to our audience.
The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. After a period of talks, Ben starts with us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all eager to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.
The President
Experience of the New Head
The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or platforms, but fans can look forward to additional details as production continues.
