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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined game identity.

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

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news echoes a similar step 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 full message from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to heart and revamped the title with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. After some time of discussions, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having spent the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving him next week. We are all excited to persist seeing the development of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the description states. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that evolve every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or supported systems, but fans can look forward to more updates as creation progresses.