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The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.

Trend of Key Recruitment

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire content from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our audience.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep seeing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game does not have an announced release date or consoles, but fans can anticipate more updates as production continues.