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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire text from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to heart and overhauled the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our players.

The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. Following some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

His management and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to persist observing the development of the game in the months to come.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling 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 match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that shift every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but players can expect additional details as production continues.