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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Feedback

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer game identity.

The president noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire message from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to heart and overhauled the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following several months of conversations, he starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half 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 next week. We are all excited to persist seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer 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 series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the description explains. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that change every round. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and pray your squad can secure victory? The option is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an official release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as production progresses.