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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the need for a more defined vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full text from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a clearer identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After some time of conversations, he officially joins us on next week.

His guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to persist observing the development of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Face the competition with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every round. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to more updates as production progresses.