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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Transition Comes After Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Hires

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full content from Ismailer's announcement:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the requirement for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of the team. After a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

His management and experience in the PVP shooter genre is considerable, having spent the recent years producing and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to continue observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Then, the developers described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective 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 suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch states. "Face the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and tests that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or aim high, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

The game does not have an official launch window or consoles, but players can anticipate additional details as development advances.