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 forthcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Response
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct vision.
Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Hires
This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full text from Ismailer's memo:
Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our audience.
Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. Following some time of discussions, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His management and experience in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.
David
Background of the New Leader
The appointee presently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Concept
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that shift every round. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and pray your group can secure victory? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos lacks an official release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as creation advances.
