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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's 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 emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined vision.

The president noted that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement echoes a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the full message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the development of the game in the weeks to come.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year alongside a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Face the competition with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an official release date or consoles, but players can expect further news as production continues.