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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

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

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game testing phase was enlightening. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our audience.

The belief in this project increases every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him soon. We are all excited to persist observing the development of the game in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that evolve every match. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official launch window or consoles, but fans can look forward to more updates as development advances.