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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the necessity for a more defined vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement follows a similar step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the entire content from the president's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to mind and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having devoted the recent years creating and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting Ben soon. We are all excited to persist seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Face the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every round. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your group can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can look forward to more updates as production continues.