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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Mixed Reception

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a clearer direction.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news echoes a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the full message from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a more distinct identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to mind and overhauled the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our fans.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. After some time of talks, he comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative step forward 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 official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your group can secure victory? The choice is yours."

The game has not yet received an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as production progresses.