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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer vision.

The president noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news echoes a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having spent the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all excited to persist seeing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.

The President

Experience of the New Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter 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 fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, risks, and tests that evolve every session. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or supported systems, but players can look forward to more updates as production continues.