🔗 Share this article

2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Poor Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a distinct vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the need for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After some time of talks, Ben starts with us on next week.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming space is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of the game in the time to come.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement 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 official summary explains. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

The game has not yet received an confirmed release date or supported systems, but fans can expect more updates as creation advances.