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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Poor Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a distinct vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to address player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement echoes a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was enlightening. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Face the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."

The game does not have an confirmed debut schedule or platforms, but players can expect additional details as production continues.