The Gaming Giant Recruits Apex Legends Lead to Rescue Troubled Hero Shooter Ambitious Title

The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Transition Comes After Poor Feedback

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct game identity.

The president stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed approach, 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 hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our audience.

The trust in this project grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Director of the team. Following some time of talks, he starts with us on the specified date.

His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the recent years developing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the progress of the game in the months to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

The game does not have an official release date or consoles, but fans can expect further news as production continues.