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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the necessity for a clearer game identity.

The president noted that the developers is now refining the project with a revised vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

His management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving Ben soon. We are all eager to continue observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the style."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the official summary explains. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and trust your team can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

The game does not have an official debut schedule or consoles, but players can anticipate further news as development progresses.