The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster unveiling last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined vision.
The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Hires
The news echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the entire message from the president's announcement:
Dear Team—
I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re eager 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 autumn’s the game 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 embraced the feedback to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Director of the team. After some time of conversations, he officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most popular franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the development of the game in the months to follow.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward 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 match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and tests that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your team can secure victory? The choice is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced debut schedule or platforms, but fans can expect further news as production continues.
