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

Management Transition Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified staff about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined game identity.

The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our fans.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the new Lead of the team. After a period of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting Ben soon. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and pray your group can earn top ranking? The option is in your hands."

The game does not have an official release date or supported systems, but fans can expect more updates as development advances.