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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Feedback

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the need for a clearer direction.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Director of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all excited to continue observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in last year together with a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Take on the competition with unique powers, risks, and challenges that evolve every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your group can secure victory? The choice is in your hands."

The game does not have an announced release date or platforms, but players can look forward to more updates as creation progresses.