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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Feedback

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a sharper identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our players.

The trust in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having spent the recent years producing and managing some of the most well-known series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year together with a public demo. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that shift every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an official debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as development progresses.