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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the requirement for a clearer vision.

The president noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our fans.

The belief in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. After several months of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee presently serves in 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 iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Face the competition with new abilities, risks, and tests that evolve every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an announced release date or supported systems, but fans can expect additional details as production advances.