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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Reception

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the need for a distinct vision.

Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

The news echoes a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire message from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your meeting - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and versatility, especially over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the need for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its ambition to our players.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To boost the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

His guidance and experience in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having devoted the recent years developing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to persist observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously 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.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"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 states. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, stakes, and tests that change every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your group can secure victory? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed release date or platforms, but fans can expect more updates as production continues.