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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a clearer vision.

The president expressed that the developers is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire content from the president's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game playtest was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, Ben officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most well-known series in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Background of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"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 game's pitch states. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that evolve every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and pray your team can secure victory? The option is yours."

Project Ethos does not have an confirmed debut schedule or consoles, but fans can look forward to more updates as creation continues.