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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Reception

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

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

Here is the complete message from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to heart and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most popular franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to continue observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, the developers described the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is yours."

The game has not yet received an official debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as development advances.