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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Feedback

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

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure informed employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined game identity.

The president stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news follows a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the full text from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

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

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the input to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Director of the team. After some time of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and experience in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having dedicated the past decade and a half producing and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary states. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that change every match. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and hope your squad can secure victory? The choice is up to you."

The game lacks an announced launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as production continues.