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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news echoes a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to heart and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to achieve its potential to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most popular series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all eager to continue observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year together with a early access event. Initially, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward 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 fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Take on the competition with unique powers, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

The game has not yet received an official release date or consoles, but fans can expect additional details as development advances.