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 over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, 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 staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined game identity.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Key Recruitment
The news mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the entire message from Ismailer's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”
Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our players.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After a period of talks, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.
Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is vast, having spent the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.
The President
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the category."
"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 official summary explains. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that shift every round. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."
Project Ethos lacks an official release date or platforms, but players can expect more updates as creation advances.
