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

Leadership Change Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct vision.

The president stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire content from the president's announcement:

Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a clearer identity.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to consideration and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the recent years producing and leading some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming him soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the rivals with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that change every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an official release date or consoles, but fans can expect more updates as production progresses.